Security Center

Online Banking Security Enhanced for Your Protection

Your credit union takes online banking security seriously. That’s why we introduced a security feature called Enhanced Authentication.   This security feature adds an extra layer of protection to your online banking experience that will:

• Defend against identity theft and fraud.
• Offer you security from any computer, wherever you are.
• Make it easy for you with one-time sign-up.

When you log onto online banking, in addition to your Logon ID and Security Code, you will be asked to choose an image and secret phrase combination (do not use your Security Code as your secret phrase). You will then have to answer three (3) Challenge Questions which are now used to verify your identity when the system detects a questionable logon attempt.   Once you have selected an image, secret phrase and answered the challenge questions, you and your computer will be enrolled in Enhanced Authentication.

If you want to access your accounts from another computer, you will have to answer one of your security questions again. If a questionable logon attempt is detected, the system will require additional identity verification before allowing access.

Whether you’re at home or on the go, with Enhanced Authentication your identity is protected.

Here are some additional precautions you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud. 

• Use strong (and unique) passwords – use different passwords for every account, and avoid using easily available information such as your mother’s maiden name, your birthday, part of your social security number, etc.
• Secure your personal information – don’t give out personal information on the phone or over the internet unless you’re the one that initiated the contact. Protect sensitive information – lock up financial statements and other documents in a filing cabinet, drop off outgoing mail that contains personal info in a secure USPS mailbox, and pick up your mail promptly.
• Monitor your credit report – request your one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus (go to annualcreditreport.com for immediate access).

The Internet is an integral part of our daily lives, it is a convenient resource and a helpful tool. Whether you’re accessing the Web from a desktop computer or a mobile device, you may be at risk for hackers, scammers, and other predators. Attackers aim to steal a victim’s identity and financial account details. All of your online activity, including email messages, online shopping transactions and social media interactions are susceptible to attack.

What We’re Doing for You

Your credit union makes it a top priority to protect member accounts from unauthorized access, theft, and fraud. At Miami Firefighters FCU we have various safeguards in place to prevent and detect account fraud before it happens, we will notify you immediately should we detect any suspicious activity. Our online Account Access and mobile apps are hosted on secure servers to protect the information you submit online.

What To Do If You Become a Victim

If you believe your personal information has been accessed, follow these steps immediately:

• Change your passwords from an uninfected computer. Make sure you use strong and unique passwords.
• Ensure all firewall, anti-virus, and spyware detection software you have installed is current.
• Run a virus scan on your computer and remove any threats that are detected.
• Check your account information frequently. If you suspect fraudulent transactions, report them immediately.

Stay Protected Take the following precautions to help guard against threats to your computer and mobile devices:

• It is important to remember that your mobile device is just another computer, and it should be guarded against malicious attacks.
• Sign up for account alerts to your email address or mobile phone to notify you of your account activity.
• Make sure your operating systems, software and browsers are up to date and that anti-virus software and firewalls are in place when possible on all computers and devices.
• Set strong, unique and different passwords for each of your accounts and enable screen locks to prevent others from using your computer or devices.
• Clear your device’s cache and history so that passwords, payment details and other saved personal information are deleted. Only store what you truly need.
• Check for a padlock symbol and “https” in your browser’s address bar when submitting payment information or other personal details online, as these denote a secure site.
• Be extra cautious when using public computers or Wi-Fi. Hold off on viewing financial information or making financial transactions until you’re on a trusted device with a secure connection.
• Download apps and software from authorized vendors only (always read the permissions of every app before installing). Others may appear credible but could contain viruses that put your device at risk.
• Limit sharing of your personal information. Be aware of privacy policies and terms and conditions on sites you use and anything you download.
• Make sure you sign out of your mobile or online banking session when you finish to ensure that your session is closed.
• Consider an Identity protection service. LifeLock is available through our insurance subsidiary. Learn more about ID Protection

ReliaShield – Identity Protection is Costly.  Protection Shouldn’t Be.

Information is moving faster than ever, and life has never flowed more quickly or been shared so broadly. We all conduct more and more of our personal business, like banking and shopping, on our computers and mobile devices. While the convenience is great, it also creates a greater risk for our personal information to be compromised.

Learn more about ReliaShield 

Scams take many different paths, but in all cases the purpose of the fraudulent attempt is to steal your money and/or your identity.  In the case of tax scams, usually an individual sends out a phone call or email presenting themselves as an employee of the IRS or your state’s tax authority under the guise of wanting to “help” with your tax filing. In more cases than not, this type of tax scam involves an unsolicited, bogus email regarding your tax refund or bill, or threatening an audit if you do not pay. These tax fraud emails also typically include the tax service’s name and official seal, and often link to a phony website in order to appear to be more official. Be wary of ANY emails or phone calls you receive from someone claiming to be an employee of the IRS or State, especially those that demand you pay immediately, as the Internal Revenue Service and your state’s tax authority will NEVER:

• Initiate contact with you by phone, email, text, or through social media outlets to ask for your personal or financial information.
• Require that you pay your taxes with a certain payment type, such as a prepaid debit card.
• Call you and demand immediate payment. The IRS or State will not call about taxes you owe without first mailing you a bill.

If you receive an email about your federal or state taxes:

• Don’t reply to the message.
• Don’t give out your personal or financial information.
• Forward the email to phishing@irs.gov and then delete the email.
• Don’t open any attachments or click on any links, as they may contain a malicious code or virus that will infect your computer.
• Check the website of your state’s tax return office to see how they recommend you report an attempted scam involving your state tax filing.

If you receive a call about your federal or state taxes:

• Ask for a contact number and an employee badge number and then call back to verify its legitimacy.
• Call the IRS or the office of your state’s tax authority to inquire further.
• Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Use TIGTA’s IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page to report the incident.
• Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission through the FTC Complaint Assistant on their website (add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your report).

For more in depth information on how to detect or report tax scams, visit https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing