Recent phishing attempts slowed e-mail transmissions for TDS Telecom customers last week, and now thousands are being encouraged to tighten up or reset passwords.

Phishing is perpetuated by Internet hackers who send fraudulent e-mails to customers posing as reputable companies to gain personal and account information.

Seven TDS customers from all over the U.S. were targets of phishing attacks, one as recent as Monday, but a company spokesman said it is fair to assume every customer received at least one e-mail from the online hackers.

Although the company could not indicate whether any of the victims were from the Maine service area, approximately 2 percent of its 300,000 customers were negatively affected by phishing, said Michael Ogden, associate manager of public relations for TDS.

“I’ve never witnessed an attack this widespread before,” said Ogden. “We’re putting up new firewalls, new password requirements and trying to get people to reset passwords.”

Ogden said there is no indication why the attacks occurred when they did, or why TDS was targeted. He said he had heard of other Internet service providers with similar problems.

TDS provides Internet and phone service to rural and suburban communities nationwide, including towns in central and coastal Maine.

Sen. Olympia Snowe recently co-authored legislation that is focused on enforcing and prosecuting those involved in phishing scams.

Ogden said TDS assigned 35 additional people to the help desk call line since the scam, bringing the total number of staffers to 200 who are ready to reset customer passwords and answer phishing questions. The company was able to remove many of the scam e-mails before customers received them, Ogden said.

AOL recently has not seen any phishing attacks similar to that of TDS, said Allie Burns, spokesperson for AOL. Customers currently have no problems sending or receiving e-mail, she said.

Ogden encouraged customers to create strong passwords of at least eight characters using a combination of numbers, upper and lower cased letters and special characters to protect themselves from phishing.

Concerned customers can visit the TDS Web site or call 1-888-call-TDS.

trobbins@bangordailynews.net

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