13 Ways to Protect Your Bank Account

1. Choose An Electronic Payment Method.
   If you are mailing checks to your management company: consider switching to online paymentss. While we offer multiple payment optionss, this digital option will ensure that your common charges or maintenance fees are delivered to management on time and securely.
   
   Online payments (depending on the service provider) give you the option to set up automatic or one-time payments. Plus, this feature will help in preventing late fees. Another added benefit: you can manage payments from anywhere, which is a plus if you are a snowbird or an individual who splits time in different homes throughout the year.

2. Mail Payments in a Security Tinted Envelope.
   If you still prefer sending payments through the mail, use a standard security-tinted #10 envelope instead of a check envelope. This will give your payments added security and anonymity. Additionally, make your check envelope difficult to open by unwanted parties. These extra layers of detail will help prevent people from trying to preview the content within your outgoing payments (or mail).

Be Wary of Scams

3. Be Wary of Any Fake Bills from Parties Pretending to Be Management.
   Unfortunately, many types of scams are out there, and they are increasingly sophisticated. Check your physical or digital bills for obvious typos or incorrect details like an incorrect office address, incorrect branding or fonts, etc. If you are ever unsure, contact management.
   
   Please note that e-bills will never come from your property manager or a specific individual. Please report any suspicious billing to management.
   
4. Check Your Bank Account.
   Make sure that your payments to management have been pulled from a consistent and recognizable name like the management company. Contact management and/or your bank if you suspect any fishy behavior, or to verify that your payments were received.
   
5. Watch for Phony Behavior.
   Be aware of scams. Do not give out personal information such as banking information, date of birth, social security numbers, or contact information to callers or any other suspicious parties online.
   
6. Use Caution When Sending Money to Others Via Wire Transfer.
   Unfortunately, wire transfer scams exist. Do not blindly follow written instructions via email or text requesting a wire transfer, even if it looks like the request is coming from a legitimate source. Management and our sales department will never ask you to wire money for sales processes, or maintenance/common charges.
   
   Services such as Zelle and Venmo should only be used with people you personally know or trust such as friends and family because any payments that you authorize may not be refundable if a scam took place. When in doubt, or dealing with any sort of wire transfer request, call the involved individuals directly to verify that you are not being targeted by a scammer. Additionally, when buying or selling a home, ask for verification over the phone from your attorney, agent, property management company, or loan officer on payment instructions if you are unsure of the legitimacy of a payment.
   
7. Report Any Suspicious Behavior or Scams.
   If you suspect any foul play or you are concerned that your payment was not received due to a scam, contact your accounts receivable representative and your bank. Additionally, if you are unsure who to contact, visit USA.Gov’s website to learn more about where to report a scam.

Strengthen Security

8. Use a Unique Password for Banking and Payment Related Accounts.
   Using complex, unique passwords will boost the security of your online banking accounts. This will help you to secure your bank accounts while making it easier to manage if your bank account(s) get hacked. Additionally, enable 2-factor authentication whenever it’s an option.
   
9. Make Sure Your “Attn” Line Isn’t a Dead Giveaway.
   For payments via mail: try to make your envelopes blend with the rest of the mail. If you mail checks directly to the management office and not our lockbox: write “Attn: Name of representative” not “Attn: Accounts Receivable Department.”
   
10. Don’t Let Strangers Into Your Building or Community.
    Keep thieves from wandering to the mail room and other areas of your building or community. Avoid leaving doors open in your building (this is important for fire safety as well). Additionally, do not buzz in strangers from your intercom, if applicable. If you live in an HOA with a security booth, be sure to add regular visitors to the guest list.
    
11. If You See Something Say Something.
    While you should not be policing your community, do stay vigilant to any unusual or suspicious activity. Notify the authorities, your property manager, the accounts receivable department, and/or your superintendent of any strange behavior or theft.
    
12. Be Mindful When Disposing of Sensitive Documents.
    Before disposing important documents, shred or markup documents and bills with sensitive information such as your account details, payment amount, etc.
    
13. Forward or Pause Mail When Traveling or Relocating
    Keep mail from accumulating in your mailbox, on your stoop, or in your mailroom by utilizing mail forwarding or pauses.