IMPORTANT SECURITY ALERT TO CLIENTS This Alert is being sent to clients regarding recent increased fraudulent activity in brokerage accounts across the U.S. and Canada. It is imperative that you read this Alert and take all appropriate actions. In recent weeks there has been an increase in the reported cases of fraudulent trading activity in brokerage accounts, with corresponding warnings from both the U.S. SEC and the Canadian IDA. Typically the schemes involve “hijacking” a valid customer account. A recent high profile case is detailed here: Two common methods of identity theft involve “phishing” and “malware”. “Phishing” refers to email campaigns that prompt a user to visit a Web-site (typically designed to look like a familiar and official web page) and enter their own personal information under some supposedly legitimate pretext. “Malware” or “spyware” involves any malicious program that is loaded on a user’s machine in order to allow for an intruder to assume control of the machine, or to log the user’s activity so that all typed username and password combinations can be recorded and used illegitimately. Keep your user name or password confidential, do not give the information to anyone and be sure not to leave it in an easily accessible place. Be extremely cautious of logging into your account from a “public” computer or internet connection. If you find something suspicious or even suspect something is not right, please call the Mastertrader.com office for assistance. If you have questions or concerns please contact us. Thank you, Joe Ely
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