Anybody has trouble with TD Ameritrade data security issues?

[sailor]

I'm considering closing an account with them.
They are unable to keep my email address from spammers since the merger.
I use customized email addresses for almost everything, so I know where "the leak" was.
I started to get a targeted investing spam ("buy this stock..." etc) at this address about two months ago,
changed address on their website to another single use one and the spam started coming about two weeks later.
My thinking is either their security sucks or some employee is selling adresses.

[eridanus]

Interesting. I thought it was just generic spam coming my way via a randomizer. I'll try the unique email address as well and see what happens.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor I'm considering closing an account with them. They are unable to keep my email address from spammers since the merger. I use customized email addresses for almost everything, so I know where "the leak" was. My thinking is either their security sucks or some employee is selling adresses.

I send outfits like that a letter that starts with "You sold me out", explains how I know that, and politely asks to be removed from all the solicitation lists.

It usually only takes one letter.

[mickj]

No but I did have the same problem with EmigrantDirect, I use custom email addresses as well.

[sailor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords I send outfits like that a letter that starts with "You sold me out", explains how I know that, and politely asks to be removed from all the solicitation lists. It usually only takes one letter.

Nords,
it's a low grade spam (although quite effectvie, since occassionally gets through the filters), does not looks like to be affiliated with TD at all.
Yea - I'll write them a letter (which probably will get ignored, they are not really high on customer support), but I was also curious if anyboody had issues with them.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor Yea - I'll write them a letter (which probably will get ignored, they are not really high on customer support), but I was also curious if anyboody had issues with them.

Considering the degree of customer loyalty they've shown so far you're probably going to be getting a new account somewhere else, but it's worth one attempt at getting treated right.*

Or at least getting an apology.

I don't think the spammers realize how they're shooting themselves in the feet.* I'd buy more investment books from trader's libraries if they didn't create so much spam in between purchases.* It's a short-term end to what could've been a long-term relationship...

[hcl777]

You are not alone. Do a Google Search for "Ameritrade Spam", and you'll find that this is happening to a LOT of people. I posted on one of those blogs, and I'll share my experiences here.

The response of Ameritrade to me and many others has been completely insulting. Their PR and customer service departments are obviously being told to stick their heads in the sand and hope it goes away.

I own my own domain name, one that no dictionary technique could EVER guess. Furthermore, I set up an e-mail address that no "brute force" algorithm could POSSIBLY figure out, and that NO ONE in the world could possibly guess.

I used that e-mail address NO place else except one time--when I signed up for my Ameritrade account.

Today, I get DAILY spam on this address. It follows the same pattern as everyone said. A bunch of nonsense text (for everyone's information, this is a tactic that spammers use to get through and to sabotage heuristic spam-blocking filters), and then a "hot tip" in the form of a graphic (again, done this way to circumvent filters).

It is obvious that one of two things are happening. 1) Ameritrade is selling our e-mail addresses to these scam artists who send thousands of e-mails out in illegal "pump and dump" schemes. 2) Ameritrade's database of our information has been compromised. There are no other possibilities.

The scary thing is--if someone is hacking into their systems and stealing our e-mail addresses--what else are they able to steal? I have two Ameritrade accounts, one opened years ago, one opened just a month or two ago. Both are getting spammed. I am considering pulling all my funds out of both. I would no sooner stay with a financial services firm that cannot keep my information secure than I would stay with a sushi restaurant that sold day-old sushi or a steak restaurant that served meat laced with ecoli.

[Texas Proud]

OK... now I know!!!!

A few weeks ago I started to get a lot of spam at work... now, I have had this email account for over 10 years and was not getting any... so I was surprised I started to get some... I had thought somebody else's computer had gotten hacked which had mine in the address book, but this seems more like the true culprit..

[Arif]

Same here. I've been with Ameritrade for years and just a couple of days ago I got some junk email about stock investing. I deleted it without opening it. I wonder how many complaints they have had about this sort of thing?

[Danny]

I have TdWaterhouse. I'm reluctant to blame them for the spam I'm receiving. This year I started using Gmail and right away the Viagra mail started. I mostly get drug mail...lots of misspelling to foil the spam filter, but it does still end up in my spam bucket. I have been getting a lot of junk in my regular mail for investment & retirement seminars that I do blame them for. They won't let me opt out of their third party mailings because they have a relationship with them and they think that's ok no matter what I think..


I do notice that there has been very heavy insider buying the last month....14,000,000 shares just by the Chairman...

[LOL!]

You sure you didn't sign up to www.tdwameritrade.com?
Warning: it's taking advantage of the typo.