• Protecting Your Online Accounts and Identity

     

    Your District Single Sign-on account, personal online accounts and identity are important and must be protected to prevent the District and you from becoming victims of fraud.  Thieves can use your identity or your password/login combination to obtain unauthorized access to District systems, withdraw funds from your personal bank account, open credit card accounts, request loans, and change your beneficiaries for retirement accounts.

     

    You should be vigilant to possible fraud when you receive:

     

    • A text message that a new unknown device was registered to your account
    • An email with a new account PIN or password that you did not request
    • An email asking you to click a link to verify your identity
    • An incorrect password message when attempting to login to your account

     

    To help protect yourself and the District, keep these tips in mind when managing your online accounts:

     

    • Use a unique, complex password/PIN for each of your online accounts, and do not use the same password/PIN for your District account as on any other account
    • Never use your date of birth, Social Security number or other personally identifying information as your password/PIN
    • Secure your accounts with multi-factor authentication (MFA), whenever you have the opportunity to do so
    • Monitor your online accounts frequently, and be sure to look for unusual withdrawals, deposits, or transactions
    • Ensure that your computer(s) are up to date with the latest operating system, patches, and antivirus software
    • Shred all mailed receipts, credit offers, and account statements to prevent “dumpster divers” from getting your personal information

     

    If you believe that you’ve been a victim of identity theft or fraud, immediately contact your online account providers. Additionally, the District recommends that you:

     

    1. Contact the three major credit bureaus for guidance on preventing further fraud or fraud on other accounts
    2. Report Identity Theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1(877) 438-4338
    3. Report any identity theft or fraud to police, even if you do not know the identity of the thief
    4. Visit the Secretary of State website, “Breach Help: Tips for Consumers,” at https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/other-privacy/breach-help-tips-for-consumers

     

    If you believe that your District Single Sign-on account has been compromised, please contact the IT Helpdesk at (213) 241-5200. Helpdesk is available Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:45 pm.

     

    Remember that fraud prevention starts with you.  It is with your continued awareness and ongoing vigilance that your personal information and online accounts will be protected.