At KCERA, protecting your retirement benefits is one of our highest priorities. Unfortunately, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and may attempt to use stolen personal information to gain access to your financial accounts or redirect benefit payments.

Important: If anyone claiming to be from KCERA asks for your banking information or requests that you move money to another account, it's a scam. Contact KCERA immediately.

You can help protect your pension by taking a few simple precautions:

Protect Your Personal Information

• Never share your Social Security number, bank account information, passwords, or online account credentials with anyone you do not know and trust.
• Store important documents in a safe place and shred documents containing personal information before disposing of them.

Be Careful with Phone Calls

• Scammers may pretend to be from KCERA, your bank, or another trusted organization.
• If you receive an unexpected call asking for personal or financial information, do not provide it.
• If you are unsure who is calling, hang up and contact the organization directly using a phone number you know is legitimate.

Think Before You Click

• Be cautious of emails, text messages, or websites asking you to log in or provide personal information.
• Do not click links from unfamiliar senders.
• When visiting your bank online, type the website address directly into your web browser rather than clicking a link from an email or text message.

Monitor Your Accounts

• Review your bank statements and account activity regularly.
• Contact your bank immediately if you notice any unauthorized transactions.
• Notify KCERA right away if you receive unexpected communications regarding changes to your account or direct deposit information.

We're here to help. If you ever have questions about a phone call, email, letter, or request claiming to be from KCERA, please contact us before responding. A quick phone call can help prevent fraud and keep your retirement benefits secure.

Other Ways to Identify Misleading or Scam Emails

Phishing scams and fraudulent emails often share several common characteristics. Be on the lookout for these classic red flags:

• Fake Landing Pages: Fraudsters often create websites that look exactly like a legitimate organization’s login page or form. These pages are designed to trick you into entering your username, password, or financial details. Always check the website’s address (URL) in the browser bar before entering any information.
• Unexpected or Unsolicited Emails: Exercise extreme caution with any email you did not expect to receive. 
• Spoofed Sender Addresses: Fraudsters can make an email appear to come from a legitimate source. Always double-check the sender’s address for subtle misspellings or unusual domains.
• Urgent Requests or Threats: Phishing scams often try to create an artificial sense of urgency—such as claiming your account is at risk—to pressure you into taking immediate action without thinking.
• Requests for Sensitive Information: Be suspicious of any email requesting your credentials, payment information, or other personal details. KCERA and other legitimate institutions will never ask for your Social Security number via email.

What To Do if an Email Seems Suspicious

If you receive a retirement-related email that seems out of the ordinary:

• Do not click any links.
• Do not reply to the email.
• Call us directly at 661-381-7700  or email us at MemberServices@kcera.org to verify if a communication is official.

By staying alert and protecting your personal information, you can help ensure your pension payments remain safe and secure.

KCERA remains committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have access to accurate, official information regarding your retirement.