Fraud Prevention

Also known as "phishing," this is becoming a popular way for criminals to gain access to your most sensitive financial and personal information via e-mail and the Internet. Typically, you'll receive an e-mail that appears to be from a company that you do business with and provides a link, often indicating that it's urgent or of high importance. Once you click on the link, it may look exactly like a legitimate business site, but you are asked to enter your personal information (account numbers, Social Security Number, passwords, PIN numbers, mother's maiden name, etc.) - often under the guise of updating or validating your account information or even saying they want to protect you from identity theft! Once they have your information, they can drain your accounts or run up bills on your credit cards, or even steal your identity.

Once criminals have obtained your personal information, they can try to take over your identity and do anything from opening a credit card or taking out an auto loan, to filing for bankruptcy, all in your name. Identity thieves can get your personal information from a variety of sources: e-mail fraud; stealing your wallet; stealing your mail; digging through your trash; hacking internet accounts; etc.

Identity theft has been the fastest-growing crime in America for the last three years. Last year there were 10 million victims, costing $53 billion in losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and thousands of dollars - cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, cars, or even be arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

Take our identity theft protection quiz.

• Never provide your PIN number or other personal information in response to an unsolicited request.
• Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited e-mail.
• Even if you believe the contact may be legitimate, get in touch with the financial institution yourself. Don't click links in e-mails.
• Change your online account password regularly and create passwords that are unique and hard for others to guess.
• Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges are correct.
• Order a copy of your credit report and review thoroughly.
• Call 1-888-5OPTOUT to have credit card companies stop sending you pre-approved credit card applications.
• Shred any mail or financial papers with your personal information on it. Never recycle them.
• Don't carry your Social Security Card with you - keep it in a secure place.
• Report lost or stolen checks, ATM cards, or debit cards as soon as you discover they are missing.

• Contact your bank and all others with whom you have a financial relationship.
• File a police report if you have had a loss.
• Report the fraud to the major credit bureaus:

  Equifax: 800-525-6285
  Experian: 888-397-3742
  Trans Union: 800-680-7289

TD Banknorth will never ask for your account number, PIN, password or any other personal information via e-mail. If you suspect you may have inadvertently provided your personal information to a questionable party, please contact Customer eCare. If you receive a suspicious e-mail or request for your personal information supposedly from TD Banknorth, please forward it to CustomerSecure@TDBanknorth.com.

Bottom line - be vigilant about protecting your personal and account information at all times. Treat this information as the valuable asset it is. Learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft.

The Federal Trade Commission also offers a wealth of helpful information on identity theft at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

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