Personal and financial data are increasingly targeted online, and retirement accounts are no exception. Taking a few steps now can protect your information and give you one less thing to worry about.
Practice Good Online Security Habits
These simple habits go a long way toward keeping your financial information private:
- Use a different passphrase for each account.
- Use multi-factor authentication whenever available. Examples include text messages sent to your personal mobile device or facial recognition that further secures a traditional PIN.
- If you receive an unsolicited call or email claiming to be from a financial institution or government agency, do not share personal account information. Contact the organization directly using a number you look up yourself.
- Check your accounts periodically to spot anything unusual before it becomes a bigger problem. It may be helpful to set a personal reminder to log in to important financial accounts every 60 days.
- Pay attention to “Last login” timestamps when they are available. Timestamps show the last time your account was accessed and can help detect unauthorized activity. Learn more at the VRS Security Center.
Secure Your VRS Accounts
Your myVRS account and DCP Account allow you to monitor your retirement benefits. You can check your benefit estimate, name beneficiaries, adjust supplemental savings contributions and more. That convenience comes with some responsibility to keep those accounts secure.
- myVRS: View contributions you’ve made toward your VRS pension, your annual Member Benefit Profile, benefit estimates and beneficiary designations for your pension and any group life insurance. Claim your myVRS account by registering it online using a secure passphrase, which helps prevent unauthorized access. If you did not register your myVRS account within 90 days of your hire date, VRS has locked it for your protection. Call 888-827-3847 to set up access.
- DCP Account: Manage your defined contribution account balances, investment choices, beneficiary designations for these plans and contribution amounts.
Once your accounts are active, make sure your contact information is up to date. VRS and Voya Financial use your personal email address and mobile number to send security alerts and verify your identity when you log in. Keep your mailing address current so you don’t miss important messages.
Update your profile in myVRS, then log in to your DCP Account and do the same. The two accounts are maintained separately, so changes in one do not carry over to the other.
Be Vigilant
VRS has received reports of outside companies contacting members by phone or email to offer VRS retirement counseling or insurance products. These companies are not affiliated with VRS.
- VRS does not use unsolicited calls to offer services to members.
- All benefit counseling is free to members and retirees.
- Correspondence from VRS arrives by U.S. mail on official letterhead, and emails will be sent from a “varetire.org” address.
- VRS staff do not come to members’ homes to discuss benefits.
- Participants in a VRS defined contribution plan may occasionally receive correspondence from Voya Financial or TIAA, third-party record keepers for the plans.
If you’re unsure whether a communication is legitimate, call VRS at 888-827-3847.
