LIKE
Friday March 29, 2024


Click the logos
for news and info
about these companies

Non-Profits & Special Events








Products & Services










Banking & Finance




Construction &
Real Estate






Travel & Tourism








Public Affairs











Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
August 26, 2003

Contact:
Brian Arsenault
(207) 761-8517
E-mail: beryl@wolfenews.com

Beryl Wolfe
(207) 775-5115

Web Site: http://www.tdbank.com/

Banknorth Warns of E-Mail Scam

Banknorth Group Inc. (NYSE: BNK) today issued a warning to all consumers regarding an upsurge in e-mail scams that attempt to gain access from customers to Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN's) of debit cards.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the e-mail scams, referred to as "phishing," promise some benefit such as increased amounts of credit or indicate that an account needs to be "updated" or "validated" to keep the account active. The scam e-mails often refer people to a "look alike" website of a bank or other business, further tricking consumers into thinking they are responding to a bona fide request. Once at the "look alike" site, consumers unknowingly provide the scammers financial information that is used to access their accounts, buy products and obtain credit.

Some customers and noncustomers of Banknorth, N.A. and its affiliate banks have received such e-mails directing them to "www.bank-north.us," a false site in no way related to the bank.

Banknorth information technology systems and customer information have not been compromised and no e-mail addresses have been gathered from the company's site. In fact, Banknorth's security systems remain intact and customers can continue to safely conduct Internet banking activities. They should simply not respond to any questionable e-mails, the Company said.

Similar scams have been perpetrated against a number of other banks in the USA and abroad. Any bank or other financial institution could be the subject of such e-mail scams. Banknorth is working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and various regulatory authorities on eliminating the scam.

"The best protection customers have is to not respond to this type of e-mail," said Edward P. Schreiber, Chief Risk Officer at Banknorth. "Whenever you are asked for that kind of information, double-check the legitimacy of the request."

The Company said that customers who receive suspicious e-mail purporting to be from Banknorth are encouraged to report it immediately to the bank at (800) 206-9421.

Mr. Schreiber noted that the Federal Trade Commission provides extensive information on avoiding e-mail scams at its website www.ftc.gov. An article on "phishing" scams is available at the following URL: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/phishingalrt.htm.

Banknorth Group is the parent company of Banknorth, N.A. which operates as Peoples Heritage Bank in Maine, Bank of New Hampshire, Evergreen Bank in Upstate New York, Banknorth Massachusetts, Banknorth Connecticut, and Banknorth Vermont.

# # #




NOTE: Wolfe News Wire is an online source for news and information about noteworthy companies and organizations. We invite you to share this content and/or leave a comment. Background info and past news items from a specific organization can be found by clicking the side logos. For more info, please email info@wolfenews.com. Thank you!



Terms of Use and Privacy Policy




©2015 Wolfe Public Relations. All Rights Reserved.