You check your bank account regularly for signs of cybertheft because it's a smart thing to do. But when was the last time you looked at your retirement account? Most people don't check all that often, but experts say cyber crooks are always looking for ways to steal money and retirement accounts are tempting targets. Their advice? Check your account regularly.
You should also review your profile to make sure your personal information is correct. If you notice any discrepancies or withdrawals, contact your plan administrator immediately.
There are a number of other things you should do. Beware of email that claims to be from your retirement account or broker telling you there's a problem with your account and giving you a link to verify your information. That link could take you to a fake website designed so crooks can steal your login and password.
You should type your plan's official website in by hand or call their actual customer service number to verify any potential problem.
If you haven't already done it, you should make sure to create a strong retirement account password, one with a combination of upper and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers that would be hard to guess.
Consider using two-step verification for extra security. This makes it harder for hackers because before you can log in, you'll be sent a unique code either by text or phone, or via email that you'll need to enter before you can access your account.
It's important that you take the time to regularly monitor your account and protect your hard-earned money.
