TD Banknorth has recently been notified by Visa that an illegal data intrusion into the Hannaford Bros. computer network may have resulted in the theft of some of our customers' credit and debit card numbers. The stolen data was limited to credit and debit card numbers and expiration dates, but no personal information, such as names or addresses, was accessed. The intrusion affected Hannaford stores in the Northeast, Sweetbay stores in Florida, and certain independently-owned retail locations in the Northeast that carry Hannaford products.
Please be aware that this was not a breach of TD Banknorth data or systems, but that of Hannaford's data and systems.
Identity and electronic information theft is one of the fastest growing crimes today. It is TD Banknorth's responsibility to protect your financial assets and safeguard your confidential information.
Please read the frequently asked questions below for more information.
Q: I am concerned about my confidential information. What happened?
A: TD Banknorth has recently been notified by Visa that an illegal data intrusion into the Hannaford computer network may have resulted in the theft of some of our customers' credit and debit card numbers. The stolen data was limited to credit and debit card numbers and expiration dates, but no personal information, such as names or addresses, was accessed. TD Banknorth takes security breaches very seriously, and we will do everything possible to protect you. We have 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week fraud detection software in place and we monitor every transaction for fraudulent activity. It is important to remember that you are protected by Visa's Zero Liability protection policy should you have fraud on your account.
Q: How could this happen?
A: Information that gets compromised can be picked up many different ways with today's modern technology. It is important to remember that you are protected by Visa's Zero Liability protection policy should you have fraud on your account.
Q: Are there other ways my information can be fraudulently obtained?
A: Unfortunately, there are many ways information can be fraudulently obtained. Dumpster diving, mail theft, direct access to personal documents in your home, stolen wallets or purses, online data theft, and impostors are just some of the ways that people obtain confidential information.
Keep in mind that your cards should be safeguarded at all times. Here are some things that you can do to protect yourself:
- Review bank statements for accuracy
- Never give your personal identification number (PIN) for your debit or credit cards by email or phone
- Be suspicious of anyone who call or emails you seeking personal information
- When you need to provide a social security number or other confidential information ALWAYS know who you are providing this information to and why it is being requested
- Make sure that you are conducting business with legitimate businesses
- Tear up or shred confidential information before discarding
Q: Are any of my other cards at risk?
A: The breach reportedly occurred from December 7, 2007 through March 10, 2008. If you used your debit or credit card during that timeframe, it is possible that they could be compromised as well.
Q: Will my TD Banknorth debit or credit card be re-issued?
A: You will not be responsible for any unauthorized transactions on your debit or credit card accounts. We will monitor card transactions for fraudulent activity. It is important to remember that the Visa Zero Liability fraud protection will cover customers if they have any unauthorized use on their cards. In addition, we have state-of-the-art 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week fraud detection software in place. If you have concerns about your card(s), please call the 1-800 number on the back of your card.
Q: Will it happen again?
A: This did not happen to our systems or network. We cannot guarantee that it will not happen again at Hannaford or some other merchants' store. However, TD Banknorth has sophisticated software that monitors card activity. We are closely monitoring these cards for suspicious activity, and we have 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week fraud detection software in place.
