Cyber Security Awareness

Cyber Security Best Practices

Among other benefits, online banking access enables you to conveniently access your financial information, better organize your financial records, and manage banking activity anytime, anywhere. However, with increased online access, comes the increased risk of internet fraud and cybercrimes.  Remember, using your bank’s secure mobile applications and banking portal is a best practice for online account management.

Understanding the potential risks of online activity can also give you an added layer of security to help you avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.

The following best practices are intended to raise your awareness of ways to better manage today’s online risks:

Protect

Don’t Click Suspicious or Unexpected Links -The threat of cybercrime most often begins with social engineering. The most common form is a variation of “phishing” - a cybercrime in which a target is contacted by email, telephone, or text message. In these situations, someone poses as a representative of a legitimate institution to lure you into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (e.g., social security number, date of birth), banking and credit card details, and passwords.

Be Cautious When Opening Attachments – Be cautious of attachments even those that appear to come from a friend or co-worker, can install malicious software or malware on your computer that could allow criminals to monitor, control or track your online activities. When in doubt, even with a known sender, contact them to confirm the intent.

Consider Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) – Implementing MFA, a multi-step account login process, will require people to enter more information than just a password. This adds another layer of protection.

Protect Your IDs and Passwords - Do not share your User ID and password and be sure to use strong passwords, not something that is easily guessed. Try using a phrase with special characters or a mix of letters and numbers.

• Create unique passwords for online accounts and social media platforms.  

• Change your passwords periodically.    

• When you are signing into a webpage on a shared device and given the option to save your password select “No”.    

• Consider using a password manager or vault. These services can help protect you from cybercrime by generating and storing a different password – one that’s long and complex – for each of your online accounts.

Keep Your Devices Updated – Keep your software up-to-date with the latest versions. This applies to your operating system and all applications. Consider setting your device to automatically update.

Forward suspicious Comerica emails to Comerica Bank at ReportFraud@comerica.com.

Detect

Monitor and reconcile your accounts regularly – Reviewing accounts regularly enhances the ability to quickly detect unauthorized activity. The quicker this activity is detected, the sooner you can take action to prevent or minimize losses. 

 suspicious activity involving your Comerica account:

• Immediately cease all online banking activity.

• Call Comerica at 888-444-9876.  
  • Remember: Comerica will never call you and ask for your password, PIN or MFA One Time Password (OTP).

Educate

Ask Questions – If you feel your online account or personal computer has been compromised, contact Comerica at 888.444.9876 or send an email to Comerica from your Web Banking home page.

Be Knowledgeable – Comerica offers resources to help educate you and to help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud:
Comerica Fraud Center

Don’t Share with Strangers – Do not give out personal information online unless you’ve initiated the transaction. Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately, offer something that sounds too good to be true, or ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers or account numbers.

Use Consumer Resources to Learn More - Stay informed about current consumer alerts and additional ways to stay safe online by having these online resource links saved in your browser favorites.

• Internet Crime Compliant Center (IC3) FBI: www.ic3.gov
• National Consumers League’s Fraud Center: www.fraud.org
• The Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov   

• Federal Bureau of Investigations: www.fbi.gov/scams-safety

• National Cyber Security Alliance: www.staysafeonline.org