Sent on 8/30/2023 to All Campus Employees and Students by the Office of Data and Information Technology
UCI Information Security reports “a new wave of fraudulent activity” tied to Chime and Go2Bank. Unauthorized accounts have been opened using UCI members’ personal information and victims then receive requests to click on links or transfer funds via UCI email, personal email and/or a letter and debit card sent to their mailing address. This activity has also been reported at other UC locations. For more information, visit https://www.security.uci.edu/2023/08/14/chime-go2bank-fraudulent-activity/
According to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection, identity theft scenarios are increasing drastically in 2023. The most recent Federal Trade Commission reports show 5.7 million cases of identity theft and fraud in 2021, up from 4.7 million in 2020. Cases are at an all-time high, because of a wider range of identity theft methods and reports indicate that nearly 33% of Americans have faced some kind of identity theft attempt in their lives, according to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection.
UC is also hearing reports that fraudulent debit, business, investment and other financial accounts are being opened in the name of university employees and students without their authorization. Often, these accounts are opened at online financial institutions that don’t require a credit check, which means credit monitoring services may not alert you to this activity.
To help protect you, UCOP is providing this non-exhaustive list of contact information for financial institutions that may be affected. UCOP is also working with these institutions where appropriate. Also below are tips and best practices from consumer protection agencies and other experts.
In general, it’s a good practice to closely monitor your work and personal email as well as your physical mail to look out for these unauthorized account openings.
If you’ve had an unauthorized account opened in your name and feel comfortable sharing your experience with us, please send a message to security@uci.edu with details on when and how you discovered the account, as well as any steps you’ve taken to resolve the issue.
Contact information for financial institutions:
- Acorns: 855-739-2859 or visit their website
- Capital One “Customer Protection” line: 866-464-7761 or visit their website
- Cash App: 800-969-1940 or visit their website
- Chime customer support: email support@chime.com or use the support submission form
- Go2Bank customer support: 855-459-1334 or visit their website
- One Finance: 855-830-6200 or visit their website
- PayPal: 888-221-1161 or visit their website
- Square customer support: 855-700-6000
- Scarlet customer support: 833-707-3783 or visit their website
- SoFi: 855-456-7634 or visit their website
Helpful websites
- Identitytheft.gov is a one-stop federal government resource where consumers can report and learn about identity theft. The site provides step-by-step advice and such resources as easy-to-print checklists and sample letters.
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov is where consumers should go to report fraud, scams or bad business practices.
- OptOutPrescreen.com is the official consumer credit reporting industry website for consumers to opt in or opt out of receiving offers of credit or insurance. To opt out, call 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688) or visit their website.
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the only source for free credit reports. To obtain a copy of your credit report (one per year), visit their website.
Articles and other resources
- Credit Freezes are Free: Let the Ice Age Begin by Krebs on Security includes information on credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, Innovis and ChexSystems.
- Data Breach: Tax-related Information for Taxpayers by the IRS.
- Here are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft if you get a notice that says a company lost your personal information in a data breach or learned that an online account was hacked.
- What to Know About Your Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts by the Federal Trade Commission.
- What To Do if You Were Scammed by the FTC.
- Check out the FTC’s identity theft articles to find out what can you do to keep your personal info secure, learn more about whether identity protection services worth the cost, and about credit freezes.
- Free Identity Theft Resources — in English and Spanish — can help you protect your identity and recover if an identity thief strikes.
- File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Money Mules Don’t Be a Mule: Awareness Can Prevent Crime by the FBI.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to email UCI’s Information Security office at security@uci.edu.