If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud or you’re in danger of being scammed—don’t panic. There are steps you can take to prevent fraud from happening, and measures to help fix the situation even if it’s already occurred.

Tips to avoid identity theft and fraud

“A sense of urgency is often involved in scams,” says Charlie McClafferty, Senior Manager in TD’s Fraud Risk Management Department. In order to protect yourself from fraud, “The first thing you should do is slow down.” This will ensure you don’t potentially make a situation worse. “Don’t be pressured into taking action.”

Whether you receive a suspicious email, notice an odd charge on your account or even think a request for money may be legit, you’ll want to consult a trusted source. “Reach out through a channel other than where you saw the potential fraud,” says McClafferty. “Get somebody else involved, whether it’s a bank employee or a family friend,” he says. You can also learn more about fraud basics to help keep yourself protected.

Report fraud and identity theft

After you’ve taken a step back, McClafferty says, “There are several things you can do to stop a scam once you know it’s in progress. Your first call should be to the bank to lock your accounts down.” This step is crucial when it comes to saving you from future losses. “If someone is spending your money, you want to stop it before it gets worse,” says McClafferty. If you're a TD Bank Customer, you can quickly lock and unlock your credit and debit cards in your app. It's a helpful feature to have, whether you think your card is lost or stolen.

Report fraud to the credit bureaus

It’s important to know what to do if your identity is stolen. McClafferty says, “If you've been a victim of identity theft, you’re going to want to contact the three credit agencies.” To do this, simply contact their fraud departments. “You’ll want to put a freeze on your credit,” he adds. “And if there are fraudulent inquiries or trades on your record, you’ll want to have them removed.” Check out their numbers below:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

File a local police report

Next, you’ll want to file a fraud report by contacting your local police. “It can be helpful to your case to have a police report on file. The next call you should make should be to The Federal Trade Commission (FTC).” Reporting fraud can help prevent others from falling victim to the same scam. It can also assist the police in gathering more information about scammers, keeping track of fraud patterns and comparing cases.

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 1-877-382-4357

Report fraud to your bank

When it comes to preventing and reporting fraud, staying in contact with your bank is very important—especially if the fraudster is posing as your bank. For example, if you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from TD Bank, you’ll want to contact us to report the fraudulent activity. You’ll also want to give us a call if you think your card is lost or stolen. You can report it on our website, too.

If you're a TD Bank Customer and think you’ve been a victim of bank fraud, Christopher Blackmore, Fraud Risk Management Expert for TD Bank, says, “The first step is to visit our Security Center to notify our fraud teams and lock down your account."

“We have teams ready to take you through the process. This includes helping you move money to where it needs to be, assisting with new accounts and making sure your credentials aren’t being sold or sent to other people.”

“Immediately reach out to us; don’t respond to the fraud on your own,” Blackmore says. There are also many things your bank would simply never ask you, and learning about them can help you stop fraud before it gains any traction. For starters, “They’re not going to ask you for your online credentials or for specific account numbers through things like email or text,” Blackmore says.

Dealing with a fraud attempt can be stressful, but it’s important to stay calm. Following a few simple steps can help you stop a scam in its tracks.

How to report fraud and identity theft to TD Bank

If you think your TD accounts or cards have been compromised, visit our Security Center to learn how to report the fraud and contact us for help right away.

• Lock your credit and debit cards
• Report a lost or stolen card:
  • TD Bank ATM or Visa® Debit Card: 1-888-751-9000
  • TD Bank Visa® Credit Card: 1-888-561-8861
• Report identity theft or a phishing attempt: 1-800-893-8554
• Forward suspicious emails to: Phishing@TD.com
• Contact your local police department or call The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 1-877-382-4357
• Report fraud to the credit bureaus:
  • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  • Experian: 1-888-397-3742
  • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289