Fraud Prevention

Fraud Alert

Please be advised that some East West Bank customers have received fraudulent postcards from "H.W.C.," "Mortgage Protection Services" and similar entities.

The mailers ask recipients to call a provided phone number regarding an important matter with their mortgage or loan. These mailers are not sent by East West Bank. Do NOT call the provided telephone number. East West Bank is not affiliated with these companies and has not provided any loan information to them. This is a scam that attempts to collect personal information.

 

Red Flags To Watch Out For

• The bottom right-hand corner contains language that states "All information provided by H.W. C."
• Postcards from other names such as loandepot.com, Heritage Warranty Company, and Mortgage Protection Services are also illegitimate entities.
• A Mortgage ID number is displayed. East West Bank would not show your personal information on a postcard.
• The phone number provided in the postcard is not a number associated with East West Bank.
• The message is delivered on a postcard rather than a sealed envelope.

This postcard is one example, but fraud attempts may come in many different formats. We urge all East West Bank customers to be cautious of suspicious solicitation. Please contact your East West Bank branch if you ever have questions or concerns.

How To Prevent Identity Theft

• Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or on the internet unless you initiated the contact, or you are certain you are communicating with someone you know to be valid.
• Keep your personal information private and secure. If you are being asked to provide your personal information, make sure you know you are communicating with someone you know to be valid. When in doubt, do NOT call the phone number or visit the website provided in a suspicious correspondence. Visit our Contact page to find a phone number or contact your branch.
• Regularly change passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information such as your birth date, your Social Security Number, or your phone number.
• Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold.
• To obstruct identity thieves who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear, or shred any documents that contain your personal information. Use a shredder to destroy any personal documents that are no longer userful. To opt out of receiving offers of credit in the mail, call: 888-5OPTOUT / 888-567-8688.
• When going out, carry only the identification information, credit, and debit cards that you need.

How To Deal With Identity Theft

• Place fraud alerts on your credit report. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
• File a report with your local police. When you file a report, provide as much information as you can about the crime, including the date, time, and place of the identity theft and the fraudulent accounts opened.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or call toll-free: 877-IDTHEFT / 877-438-4338.

Exercise your rights to review your credit record and report fraudulent activity. To order your free annual credit report from one or all of the national consumer reporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free 877-322-8228.

For more information about the steps to take on obtaining your credit report, contact the credit bureaus listed below:

• Equifax: 800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com
• Experian: 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
• TransUnion: 800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com

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