At LMCU, we work tirelessly to ensure the money you entrust us with stays safe from hackers, scammers, and fraudsters. And while we love helping you at every step of your financial journey, we can’t be there with you everywhere you go.
So whether you’re close to home or far from it, there are always additional precautions you can take to keep your accounts and personal information secure. Here are some of our top tips for making sure your money stays, well, yours.
Set yourself up for success
There are a number of tools LMCU offers that you can opt into for an additional layer of account security. Think of each as an additional lock that makes your account that much tougher to crack.
Set strong passwords: The best defense always starts with a unique username and password. Do make your password at least 8 characters long, with a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Don’t use anything a fraudster could easily guess, like a pet's name, your child's name, your address, phone number, or birth date. Be sure to change your password regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple sites.
Use our mobile authenticator: For even greater password security, you can sign up to use our mobile authenticator. It will send a unique, one-time passcode to your LMCU mobile app that you can use instead of your usual password when logging into Online Banking. This one-time passcode is randomly generated and expires shortly after, so a hacker can’t guess it.
Use biometrics: A biometric login uses your one-of-a-kind fingerprint or face to verify your identity instead of a password. Since they can’t be typed, these biometrics are extremely difficult for a hacker to fake. To enable fingerprint and facial recognition, log into your account via the LMCU mobile app and navigate to Settings > Login Options > Biometric ID.
Enroll in eAlerts: LMCU eAlerts will notify you immediately if we detect withdrawals you didn’t authorize or other suspicious account activity. You can sign up to get all types of alerts via text, phone, or email. Learn how to set up eAlerts here.
Enroll in eStatements: LMCU eStatements protect your personal information by keeping a record of your transactions behind a secure login. You’ll be notified by email when a new statement is available. Learn how to enroll in eStatements here.
Bank with caution
Many scammers will take advantage of your trust and familiarity, stealing your sensitive information when you least expect it. Staying aware and alert are your best bets at thwarting these convincing attempts at deception.
Make sure you’re on LMCU.org: No matter how convincing a website may look, never enter your username or password without confirming it’s the real deal. Thankfully, making sure you’re banking with the real LMCU is simple. Check the address bar at the top of your browser to make sure it has:
- A lock icon
- https://www.LMCU.org
Think before you click: Texts and emails are easy to fake, so it can be tough to know whether a message is malicious. Even if you get contacted by a retailer, financial institution, or government agency you know and trust, they could be a clever impersonator. Don’t open any suspicious messages or attachments, and don’t click any unfamiliar links unless you’re sure you know what’s in them. When in doubt, double-check the identity of the sender by contacting them using an additional method, whether that’s on their website, over the phone, or in-person at a brick-and-mortar location.
Freeze your debit or credit card: If you temporarily misplace your debit or credit card or suspect fraudulent activity on your account, it’s safest to freeze the card to prevent new purchases and ATM transactions. If you find it later, you can just unfreeze it! It’s easy to freeze or unfreeze your debit or credit card in seconds via the LMCU mobile app or Online Banking. Please keep in mind that while your debit card is frozen, other account activity will continue as normal.
By following these tips, you can bank with confidence. For even more advice on protecting your financial peace of mind, visit our Security Center.
Topics: Fraud Prevention
