Tips for Safeguarding Your Data in the Wake of National Public Data's Breach 

National Public Data, a background check company, released details confirming a recent data breach. NPD, stated the incident is "believed to have involved a third-party bad actor that was trying to hack into data in late December 2023, with potential leaks of certain data in April 2024 and summer 2024." According to the report, information that was suspected of being breached contained name, social security number, email address, phone number, and mailing address(es). This breach is a serious concern, and we want to ensure that our members are informed and prepared.

You can visit NPD’s website to read the full article: https://nationalpublicdata.com/Breach.html 

At Meriwest Credit Union (“Meriwest”), keeping your personal and financial information secure is one of our most important responsibilities. You should feel safe knowing we will work with you to prevent fraud and identity theft. If something should happen, we will help you resolve it as quickly and easily as possible. 

In the event we should suspect or detect that unauthorized individual gained access to your information and/or our information systems, we will react immediately to determine who has gained access, what information the intruder has, and the severity of the problem.

What Should You Do?

• Monitor your accounts: Keep a close watch on your recent account activities, and credit reports for any suspicious activity. Early detection is crucial in mitigating any potential damage. 
• Place fraud alerts: Contact all three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This alert will notify creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts, and even loans.
• Consider credit monitoring: Enroll in a credit monitoring service. These services offer free options that can alert you to changes in your credit report.
• Report suspicious activity: If you notice any unusual activity, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file a report with your local police.
• Update your passwords: Change your passwords for any online accounts. 
• Add a verbal password on your account. 

You may also visit our website and review the Meriwest Credit Union Customer Awareness and Education document. Security and Fraud | Meriwest Credit Union

We are actively monitoring any updates and will post updates as they become available. Your security is our top priority, and we are committed to supporting you through this process.