Thursday, September 25, 2008

Mortgage customers' data stolen, warns National Bank

National Bank urged its mortgage customers to be extra vigilant about suspicious activity in their accounts after a laptop was stolen from the company's Montreal head office this week.

The bank said while the risk of fraud is minimal, it decided to issue the warning as a precaution for customers.

The number of client files stored in the laptop database isn't being made public, but the theft did affect a "high percentage" of National Bank mortgage customers across the country, said a spokesperson at the financial institution.

The laptop contained client names, addresses, bank reference numbers and account numbers.

No social insurance numbers, birth dates or signatures were included in the database.

Most of the database information can be obtained from any cheque written by a client, so it's difficult for somebody to successfully commit fraud, the bank said.

The bank sent out a letter to clients informing them about the theft and security breach.

Customers will be compensated for any potential fraud linked to the theft, the bank said.

With files from the Canadian Press

  • Ex-JPMorgan banker arrested
  • Safeguarding IRAs in difficult times
  • Mortgage customers’ data stolen, warns National Bank
  • Laptop with bank details of over a million Britons sold on eBay
  • 11 around world accused in TJX, other identity-theft cases
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