Security Tips

Protect yourself and/or your business from fraudsters and cybercriminals with these security tips:

 

 

 

1. Avoid giving out personal information

It’s important to protect your personal information, especially non-publicly available information such as account numbers, passwords, one-time passcodes (OTPs), PINs or social insurance numbers. Don’t give out any information online, via phone, or in person that you don’t need to.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Say no to unsolicited calls, messages and emails

If you’re unfamiliar with the caller or sender, proceed with caution or avoid it altogether. If you get a call, voicemail, email, direct message or text from someone claiming to be from BMO and you think it’s suspicious, do not share any personal information and contact us immediately using the information on the back of your card.
Important: BMO will never contact you via unsolicited email, text or phone call asking for sensitive information, passwords, PINs or verification codes (one-time passcodes).

 

 

 

3. Slow down and avoid any “urgent” requests

Be mindful of responding too quickly to requests for information. Avoid any “urgent” requests or offers that seem too good to be true. Instead, take a moment to investigate and follow up with the company using information from their website. Be wary of anyone requesting gift cards, money orders, cheques, or wire transfers. If anyone is requesting these types of payments, the likelihood of fraud may be higher.

 

 

 

4. Recognize common scams and the red flags to help avoid them

Protect yourself from scams by knowing the warning signs. Check out this brochure on common scams and articles on protecting yourself, your family, and your business. For the latest information on scams, check out BMO's Security Alerts page and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

 

 

 

 

5. Sign up for banking alerts

One of the fastest and easiest ways to help safeguard your accounts is to sign up for notifications from your bank, such as  BMO Alerts. These types of alerts make it easy to keep track of your account activity and monitor for suspicious transactions. Be sure to keep your contact information up-to-date by signing in to Online Banking (check out this demo) or visiting your local BMO branch. You can also receive your BMO Alerts as app notifications, which are personalized messages sent directly to your mobile device. In order to get your BMO Alerts as an app notification, sign into BMO Mobile Banking, select your profile in the top-right corner, and select “Manage Alerts”. From there, you can turn on app notifications for BMO Alerts.

 

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6. Choose strong and unique passwords

Set a different password for each of your online accounts. Never use birthdays, anniversaries, pet’s or children’s names, or common phrases like “password” or 123456. Instead, use complex phrases that are at least 8 characters long. Your passwords should include upper and lowercase letters and special characters (numbers and symbols). Never share any of your passwords or passcodes with anyone.

 

 

 

7. Review email addresses and URLs carefully and keep an eye out for phishing attempts

Emails and websites can look like they are from trusted companies, but if you review the email address and URL carefully, you’ll notice a small difference like one extra letter, a period, or a .net instead of a .com. Don’t reply or click on any links in unsolicited or suspicious emails or texts. Forward the email to us as an attachment and delete it from your inbox. Not sure if it’s a legitimate email from BMO? Here’s how we’ll contact you.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Use multifactor authentication to prevent identity theft and account takeover

Fraudsters may try to access your accounts or information by pretending to be you, and then request a new credit card, drain your funds or even sell your information to the highest bidder. Enabling multifactor authentication is the best way to prevent this, as it uses more than one method (e.g., a one-time passcode sent by text, push notification, or automated voice call) to confirm your identity.

 

 

 

9. Secure your devices and practice safe brow align-items-centersing

Safeguard your computer, tablet and phone by downloading additional security software from our trusted tech partners. Update your devices and apps regularly, especially your brow align-items-centerser, and antivirus and firewall software. Use strong privacy settings on your devices to avoid popups and unsafe websites. Limit your online activity to sites and apps that you are familiar with, and never download files from or share information with websites and programs that you don’t trust.

 

 

 

 

 

10. Exercise caution when connecting to free public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks may be convenient, but they can also be dangerous, as fraudsters may exploit people connected to public Wi-Fi by using multiple tactics. Avoid using free Wi-Fi in public places, especially if you need to bank, shop or work online. Smart home gadgets (or IoT devices) can also be vulnerable to attacks. To minimize your risk, connect devices like smart TVs, digital assistants and smart doorbells to a different home Wi-Fi network than your primary devices (your computer, mobile and tablet).

 

 

 

11. Don’t share too much on social media

Sharing too much online and on social media can provide clues about your passwords or security questions, and can make it easy for cybercriminals to access your accounts. Update your privacy settings to limit who sees what you share. Educate your kids about what they can and can’t share on social media, and help them make smarter decisions online.