The internet has made the way we access and manage our personal and financial information simpler. But with ease and convenience come threats to our online privacy. At the TSP, we know that your planning, investing, and saving would mean nothing if everything you’ve worked hard for were lost to fraud. Protecting your account is a top priority for us—and we’ve made some noticeable changes to the Plan. But you also play an important role in keeping your personal information safe and secure. Here are a few online basics that could help you safeguard your future income:

• Use strong and unique passwords. Passwords are keys to your online identity, so it’s important to protect them just as you would your driver’s license, passport, or Social Security number. Create complex passwords, change them frequently, and resist the temptation to write them down.
• Beware of phishing scams. Phishing is a way the bad guys trick you into sharing passwords, account numbers, and other sensitive information. The email or text message looks like it’s from a trusted organization. Don’t be fooled. Don’t click on or respond to emails, text messages, instant messages, mobile apps, links, or pop-up windows that ask you to provide account or personal information. Access your TSP account only by typing "tsp.gov" directly into your secure browser.
• Learn to identify real TSP communications. We may contact you by phone, mail, or email to confirm a transaction or change you made. We’ll also send account-related educational emails and informational emails such as Plan updates and the Thrift Savings Planner newsletter. However, we will not contact you about investment opportunities or authorize third parties to provide counseling or services related to your investment choices. We do not assign the terms “TSP Advisor” or “TSP Counselor” to any individual or group. Your TSP password and ThriftLine PIN are your business, and no one at the TSP will ever need to know that information for any reason. Call the ThriftLine at 1-877-968-3778 if you’re not sure if correspondence or phone calls claiming to be from the TSP are trustworthy.
• Keep contact information up to date. We use your contact information to notify you when there is certain activity on your account. The communications will help you identify suspicious activity. If your contact information changes or you move, remember to let us know. We can’t help you if we can’t reach you.
  
  You can update and validate your email address(es) and mobile phone number any time in your My Account profile settings. Be sure to provide at least one non-work email address or number so you can access your account anytime, even when you’re not working. To update your mailing address, contact your agency or service if you are still working as a federal employee. If you’re separated from service, you can change it in your My Account profile settings.
• Close your browser after you log out. When you’re finished accessing your TSP account, close your browser window. This will clear the browser's memory of your sensitive account information.

Want to see the activity in your account? Always check your quarterly and annual TSP statements carefully to help keep your account safe. If you see unauthorized or unusual account activity, call us immediately at 1-877-968-3778. The TSP cannot be responsible for unauthorized account activity that you report to us after 60 calendar days of the date we issued the statement.

Be mindful: Always securely store and dispose of paper copies of TSP statements and correspondence.