Your Role in Cybersecurity: Help banks keep your money safe

Identity theft and cyber scams will continue to be a threat that all consumers face, especially as technology continues to evolve. 

While banks implement robust security measures to protect consumers’ finances, it is crucial that consumers do everything they can to protect themselves from becoming a victim. Following are five simple strategies all consumers can implement that, combined with the security protocols from the bank, will help minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or other cyber scams. 

1. Create a strong first line of defense — The first step in protecting your finances is to use strong passwords that utilize both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters to create a powerful first line of defense. Utilizing multifactor authentication will give you an extra layer of protection. 
    
2. Keep track of your finances — It’s important to check your financial accounts regularly to ensure there has been no suspicious activity. If you see anything out of the ordinary, report it to your financial institution right away so they can help you address the issue. 
    
3. Don’t share your information — Personal data should be kept personal. Be cautious with whom you share this information. Make sure you also properly dispose of bank statements and other documents that contain personal information. A small document shredder is a useful tool that can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.
    
4. Know how to spot phishing scams — Cyber criminals use phishing tactics to try to trick you into giving up personal information, including usernames and passwords. Do not click on links in emails or text messages, and never download attachments from unknown sources. If you are unsure if the message you received is legitimate, contact the company directly to verify its legitimacy, especially if the message you received is requesting sensitive information. 
    
5. Check your credit report annually — You can access your free credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 877-322-8228. Check your report each year for inaccuracies and take steps to clean up any errors you find.