• Don’t share your User ID or password with anyone and don’t write it down. If you share your password with a third party, you assume responsibility for their actions.
• Avoid accessing your account from public computers in Internet cafes, libraries, hotels, etc.,—they can be accessed by malicious users who may have installed software in them to record your keystrokes.
• When you are finished accessing your account, always log off and close your browser.

Many Internet scams today involve email messages that appear to come from a trusted source, but are not trustworthy. Additionally, email attachments can be harmful because they may contain viruses.

The below can be indications that an email is fake:

• The email claims to be from a legitimate company requesting that you change your password by clicking on a link. It may even threaten to suspend your account if you do not do this.
• The email claims to be from a person in authority requesting a copy of a password file, User ID, Social Security number, or banking information.
• The email asks you to verify your account information by clicking on a link and filling in a form.
• Right click on the link in the email and select properties. If the section under URL Address contains an “@” symbol or does not appear to be a tdameritrade.com address then it is likely fraudulent.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from email fraud:

• Do not reply to any email asking for personal information.
• Use antivirus software and keep it updated. Scan all attachments with an antivirus software program before downloading
• Do not visit links sent by email as these can lead to phishing sites— sites made to look legitimate and designed to collect your personal information. One way to avoid this is to enter the URL into your browser instead of clicking the link.
• Do not open or reply to spam email which can prompt more spam to be sent to your inbox.
• Turn off the “preview pane,” as this allows some viruses to be executed even if you never actually open the email.
• Report suspicious email to your advisor and Trek Financial.

Choosing your password well and keeping it a secret can be key steps to safeguarding all of your online transactions. To create a password that is more difficult to guess, use a combination of letters and numbers for passwords you create, such as “4funcallC3po” or “Il9vemyd1g.” Certain passwords are easier to compromise, so try to avoid common pitfalls by creating secure passwords:

• Don’t base your password on personal information—such as the name of your pet or your company.
• Don’t use a word found in the dictionary as your password.
• Avoid substituting numbers for letters, for example: using a zero for the letter “o” or a one for the letter “i.” These substitutions are well known and predictable.
• Don’t use your User ID as your password.
• Don’t use simple number sequences like “12345” or a series of duplicate numbers like “11111”
• Change your password frequently, and don’t “recycle” a password you’ve used somewhere else.

Make sure you only access personal information through websites that use Secure Sockets Layers (SSL). An SSL offers an additional layer of security that many sites use. You can check whether the site you are on has an SSL in effect by checking for two things:

1. Look at the website address. If you are on a secure site, the address will include https:// instead of https://. The extra “s” stands for secure.
2. Look at the bottom of your browser or at the top (after the address bar) for a lock or key icon. This indicates a secure connection. Each secure site comes with a digital certificate, establishing its legitimacy. To view the certificate, double-click on the lock or key.

If you get a pop-up message indicating a problem with a site’s Security Certificate, do not proceed. The website should be secured with a digital certificate, which verifies you’re at a legitimate website and not a “spoofed” site.[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=”Know the Threats” open=”no”]It’s important to be aware of possible risks to your computer and the information on or passing through it. We have a designated team responsible for reviewing potential threats to clients’ assets and information.

Your awareness, combined with our vigilance, can help to decrease the risk to your accounts and information.

Familiarize yourself with the threats posed by:

Identity theft

Identity theft—using a person’s personal or financial data to commit fraud—is one of the most rapidly growing global crimes. The targets of this crime are personal information, financial information, and access to online accounts.

The personal information often targeted includes:

• Name, address, and date of birth
• Social Security number
• Driver’s license number
• Passport
• Signature

The financial information often sought is:

• User IDs and passwords
• Account numbers and ABA numbers
• Credit card numbers
• ATM/Debit cards
• Checks

Phishing happens when someone attempts to steal personal or financial information. It usually starts with an email asking for sensitive information, such as your User ID or user name, your password, or your account information. Phishing—sometimes referred to as pharming—opens the door to identity theft and computer security breaches.

Please note: Trek advisors and staff, and any of their affiliates will never ask you for your account number, User ID, PIN, password, or any other personal information in an email. (In rare cases, however, we might need to ask you for the last four digits of your account number for identification purposes.)

For more details on how you can help protect your investments, log in to AdvisorClient.com and access the Security Center from the Client Services tab on the site menu.