Don't take the bait with online “phishing” schemes

(NC) – These days, it’s easy to be caught by a sophisticated phishing scheme. The term phishing refers to an online scam that seeks out personal financial information from people who believe they are sharing their information with a legitimate website or organization. Justin Hwang, associate vice president of fraud management for TD Canada Trust, provides tips on how to protect yourself from being lured in by fraudsters.

1. Never respond to unsolicited emails, or click on a suspicious link in an email that asks you to validate your account information or to provide personal information or login information such as passwords, PINs or security question answers.
2. Watch out for copycat websites that have been made to look like your financial institution’s website. Carefully type in your bank’s URL address, or try bookmarking your banks website.
3. When you are making any online purchases or transactions, make sure the website you are using is secure. Look for a URL that begins with “https://” and has the “closed padlock” symbol.
4. Do not share your password or Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone. Never give your password or PIN out over the phone or through email.
5. Change your account passwords often. Every 30 days is a recommended timeframe. Always try to use a combination of letters and numbers for maximum protection.
6. Make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed on your computer.

“Most importantly, remember that TD Canada Trust will never ask you for personal information over email, and if you’re ever unsure about an email you receive or a website you enter, err on the side of caution and contact us immediately,” says Hwang.

More information on fraud prevention is available online

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