Cybersecurity Awareness

An account takeover occurs when a fraudster gains access to a legitimate user's account, which could be a work or personal email account, bank or credit card account, social media account, etc. Email account takeovers in particular can catch people off guard because a victim is much more likely to take an action when receiving an email that seems to be from someone they regularly correspond with. Protecting your information and money requires both us and you working together. It is Metro Phoenix Bank’s top priority to keep your accounts safe. We do this through:

• A strong network security system.
• Implementation of technology that blocks malware and viruses.
• Ongoing employee training that evolves with the latest threats.
• Remaining vigilant regarding software patches.
• Utilization of multi-factor authentication.

The most important things you can do are:

• Use strong passwords and a different password for each site. Using passwords based on names of pets, sports teams, dates such as birthdays or anniversaries, etc. can lead to business email compromise.
• Keep computers, laptops and phones updated with the latest security patches.
• Detecting fraud quickly is critical in recovering stolen funds; therefore, review your account activity regularly (deposit accounts, credit cards, etc.) and take advantage of placing account alerts when available.
• Run reputable antivirus/anti-malware software on your computer and keep it up to date.
• Never assume that an email message is from the named sender, especially when a transfer of money is involved. Always call the number you have on file if there are any doubts, not a number in the email.

The FBI has issued a public service announcement regarding transfer-of-funds scams. Learn more about who is targeted, statistics, and suggestions. 

Learn More