DUBUQUE, Iowa — Fraud attempts are on the rise, and scammers are becoming more sophisticated every day. For more than 77 years, Dupaco Credit Union has been committed to protecting its members and their money. Through expert monitoring, education and advanced technology, the ongoing effort is paying off: in 2025, Dupaco has already helped prevent nearly $7 million in potential losses, reinforcing its role as trusted partner in safeguarding members’ financial well-being.
Behind the scenes at Dupaco’s operations center in Dubuque’s Millwork District, the financial cooperative’s fraud team works tirelessly to ensure members accounts are protected from potential fraud losses. They collaborate with other financial institutions, partner with law enforcement, and complete regular training to ensure all Dupaco employees remain informed so they can be a leader in fraud prevention.
Dupaco also continues to invest in innovative technologies to help detect suspicious account activity. These systems are designed to recognize anomalies and inconsistencies—flagging any issues before they become problems.
“Fraud prevention is a shared effort. Everyone’s vigilance matters,” said Jill Gogel, vice president, fraud services at Dupaco. “Fraud attempts are rising everywhere. When members stay alert and we stay ahead of the trends, we create a strong line of defense—together.”
Gogel provides these tips as a few ways to stay proactive in the fight against fraud on financial accounts:
- Monitor your accounts online regularly.
- Review your credit report regularly. Dupaco members can use Bright Track, the credit union’s free tool within their Shine online or mobile banking to keep tabs on their credit report and spending trends.
- Set up eNotifiers to receive alerts for things like account activity, balance and debit card usage. At Dupaco, these can be delivered by text, email or both—your choice.
- Use strong, unique passphrases. Then, be sure to update them often.
- Sign up for two-step login verification for your online accounts, then verify your contact information with your financial institution to ensure your verification codes are reaching you.
- Utilize the passcode or biometric options on your personal phone and other devices.
- And most importantly—trust your gut. If something feels off, or you think you may have been targeted by a fraudster, don’t hesitate to reach out.
For more fraud prevention resources visit dupaco.com/protection.
###
ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 178,000 with assets exceeding $3.5 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.
