Fraud Prevention Resources

   

Sign Up for Fraud Alerts on Your Accounts

Setting up fraud alerts for your La Capitol Federal Credit Union debit or credit card is easy. This one simple action can help protect your card from unauthorized activity. It can save you valuable time and money by preventing criminals from fraudulently using your accounts or cards.

To get started, access fraud alerts from your desktop or mobile device by logging into home banking, then selecting the account you want to protect. Once you log into the account, you will see a link in the bar at the top of the page. Click that link to go to the fraud alerts setup page. Once there, you will be asked to enter your card information. At that point, you will receive a confirmation text message. Reply to the text message, and you can rest assured that your card is protected by fraud alerts.

Once you sign up for fraud alerts, you will receive automated messages on your mobile device via text or voice if a suspicious transaction is identified on your credit or debit card. You will then simply reply to the text to confirm that the transaction is fraudulent, or that you did indeed make the purchase.

Should your mobile number, or card number change in the future you’ll need to reregister your card with the new number in order to continue receiving alerts.

Fraud alerts from La Cap are only one of the many important ways we help to protect your accounts.

  • Set Up a Travel Alert

    To protect our members, we are constantly on the lookout for fraudulent activity. If a transaction seems suspicious – like one from a new location or in a large amount, it could be declined. So if you're going to be traveling, let us know ahead of time by calling 1-800-522-2748. That way, we can make sure you have adequate access to your funds while you're on the road. 

  • Tips for Protecting Your Information

    Credit and debit card fraud involves the unauthorized use of another person's card information to make purchases from their account or access their funds. It happens in several ways.
    Card fraud can mean online scams, data breaches, and card or mail theft. Know how to defend yourself and rest assured La Capitol is continually monitoring for threats and suspicious activity. However, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself:

    Be Careful with Your Card Information

    • Record your card and account numbers, along with expiration dates, in a secure, safe place. Be sure to include the phone number for each card company so you can report fraud and minimize damage quickly.
    • Don’t carry cards that you don’t normally use on your person. Carry only the cards you need or use regularly. That way there is less opportunity for a thief to take your cards and fewer cards you'll have to freeze if they are lost or stolen.
    • Shred any documents containing personally identifiable information (PII) before throwing them away. Use a cross-cut shredder if possible.
    • Never give your account number to anyone on the phone unless you initiated the call to a company you know to be reputable, or you are expecting the call.

    Use Your Card Wisely

    • Never leave lines blank when signing a receipt. The information on a blank receipt may be changed after you've already signed it. Drawing a line through any blank spaces can help.
    • When handing your card to a merchant, always make sure you can see the card. Watch your card during the transaction and make sure you get it back.
    • Look for irregularities with an ATM before using it, especially with the card slot. If it looks odd, it may be a skimmer used to capture your credit card information. ATMs and other Point of Sale card readers should not have loose parts. If you notice it after you've inserted your card, alert the card issuer.
    • Use cards online only with extreme caution. Only enter information on websites you're 100 percent sure are legitimate or use a third-party site when you can.

    Beware Pretext Calling

    Pretext Calling is the practice of getting your personal information under false pretense by sending you a text message that asks you to call a specified number about your debit or credit card. Visit ftc.gov for more information.

  • Get Your Annual Credit Report

    Why Should I Review My Credit Report?

    Your credit report is used by financial institutions and other organizations to make a variety of decisions that impact you – loan rates,  insurance rates, whether or not you can rent a house or apartment, even employment opportunities. It’s important to know what’s on your credit report so you know where you stand with lenders, make corrections, and identify any activity that may be fraudulent.

    U.S. citizens are eligible to receive a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Request a free copy of your credit report annually at annualcreditreport.com.

    Equifax 1-800-685-1111
    Experian 1-888-397-3742
    Transunion 1-800-916-8800

  • Helpful Links
How to Report Fraud

To report a lost or stolen debit or credit card, click here and call the number associated with the type of card you have. 

If you have additional questions, please call our Plastic Card Services department at 800-522-2748 (press option 3), M-F between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For all other suspected fraud, please call our Personal Assistance Line at 800-522-2748.