Ways to protect yourself from common frauds and scams

While we make every effort to secure your personal information, there's plenty you can do to avoid falling prey to fraud and identity theft. Through awareness and good online habits, you can significantly reduce your risk of fraud and identity theft.

Ways to protect your online data

Discover options to protect yourself online.

Things TD Bank will never ask

Fraudsters can try to defraud you by impersonating your bank. Protect yourself by knowing certain things TD Bank will never ask you.

  1. Ask you to help with an undercover investigation.

  2. Contact you and ask for your personal information such as full account numbers or passwords.

  3. Ask you to purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency.

  4. Ask you to transfer money as part of an investigation.

  1. Ask you to keep a secret or be dishonest with TD staff.

  2. Request access to your computer or mobile device.

  3. Try to rush you into doing something.

Passwords and logins

Password safety is the first line of defence against fraud. Even with new technologies such as voiceprint and facial recognition, passwords are still widely used across all industries and remain important to help protect personal information.

  • Never share your passwords or PIN with anyone.
  • Choose different passwords for your devices.
  • Use multi-factor authentication when possible.
  • Avoid entering passwords on devices you do not control.
  • Do not choose easily guessed passwords such as names and birthdays of people you know, or sequential passwords such as ‘12345’ and ‘ABCDEF.’

Social media

Social media is a common way to connect and stay in touch with colleagues, family and friends. Unfortunately, it is also a very popular way for fraudsters to target their victims.

  1. Avoid sharing sensitive information including your full birthdate, phone number and location.

  2. Do not accept friend requests from strangers.

  3. Use different passwords as well as verification questions for your social media accounts.

  1. If you use social media on your mobile device, ensure it is password protected.

  2. Always be cautious when receiving messages, particularly from those you don't know. Shortened URL's and fake advertisements are very common across social media.

  3. Be cautious of unusual posts or messages from friends and contacts, as accounts can be hacked.

Online purchases

Whether you’re new to online shopping or a savvy online shopper, it is important to know what to watch out for.

  1. Shop with well-established and familiar retailers. When shopping with new retailers, be vigilant and research the company or store prior to your purchase. 

  2. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

  3. Be cautious about how you make a payment. Paying with a credit card or debit card through a secure e-commerce site is the preferred method.

  4. Look for "https" at the start of the URL as well as a tiny padlock in your browser’s address bar. This will indicate the site is secured using an SSL Certificate.

  5. Avoid making purchases in a sales pop-up page. Go directly to the website you know is legitimate.

Viruses, malware and ransomware

Viruses and malware are malicious software which infects your computer and corrupts its data. Ransomware is when a criminal locks your computer and then demands payment to restore access. These types of attacks can be very damaging for businesses and people.

  • Be cautious with unsolicited emails and do not open any email attachments from strangers.
  • Be careful accessing or clicking links on new or unfamiliar websites.
  • Ensure your device or computer is running with the latest software updates.
  • Whenever possible, use multi-factor authentication for additional security.

Questions You May Have

Don’t open emails you didn’t ask for, and don’t open email attachments from strangers.

Be cautious about clicking links on unknown websites.

Regularly update the software on your computer, phone and other devices.

Keep your passwords safe:

  • Never share your passwords, PIN or CVV (the 3-digit number on the back of your card) with anyone.
  • Choose different passwords for different devices.
  • Don’t use your passwords on someone else’s device.
  • Choose a “strong” password that uses a random combination of numbers or letters. Don’t use names or birthdays or a row of numbers or letters that are too easy to guess like “12345” or “ABCDEF”.

Use Two-Step Verification whenever possible. When you turn on this feature, we'll confirm it’s you by sending a text message to your phone.

Learn more

Never reply to suspicious emails or open attachments from strangers: delete them.

Fraudsters may try to scam you by pretending to be your bank. Remember, TD Bank will never ask you to:

  • Give personal or account information (like bank account numbers or passwords) by phone.
  • Let us remotely access your computer. 
  • Transfer money or “keep a secret” as part of an investigation.
  • Buy gift cards.

Learn how to spot a scam 

Here’s what to keep in mind when you pay for purchases online:

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
  • Shop with well-known, familiar retailers. If you haven’t heard of the company or store, research them before you buy.
  • Be careful how you pay: the safest way is with a credit card or debit card on a secure site.
  • Don’t make purchases in a pop-up page: go directly to the store’s secure website.

Learn more

When logging in to EasyWeb online banking on your computer, always go to the official TD Bank website by typing in "td.com" or use the mobile app on your phone. 

When using online banking in a public place, always make sure your password can’t be seen by anyone and that you’re using a secure connection. Avoid using public connections, like a hotel connection or a transit connection. 

Make sure your phone and other devices you use for online banking are password-protected. Turn on Two-Step Verification , when possible. With this feature, we’ll confirm it’s you by sending a text message to your phone.

Learn more

To report online fraud (i.e., phishing emails, fraudulent text messages, etc.), send an email to phishing@td.com. Attach copies of suspicious emails, text messages and any links or URLs that you think might be fake.

If you do not recognize a transaction (like a purchase, debit or other charge) on your TD statement, call TD Bank right away at one of the numbers below:

  • TD Bank: 1-866-222-3456
  • TD Direct Investing: 1-800-465-5463
  • TD Insurance: 1-877-397-4187
  • Web Business Banking Support: 1-800-668-7328

You can also chat with us through EasyWeb and the TD Mobile App, or at a TD Branch.

Learn more

The safest way to pay is by using your TD Credit Card or TD Access Card, and only on a secure website. 

Here’s what to keep in mind when making online purchases:

  • If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Shop with well-known, familiar retailers. When shopping with companies or stores you don’t know, research them before you buy.
  • Don’t make purchases on a pop-up page: go directly to the retailer’s secure website.

Learn more

Scammers can use any information that is unique and personal to you, such as your:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Credit Card/Debit card number and CVV
  • Bank account information
  • Social Insurance Number
  • Passport
  • Phone number

Additional fraud resources

You can explore these resources to learn more about fraud prevention.