Watch out for impersonation scams
Fraudsters are impersonating banks to target personal or financial information. BMO will never contact you via unsolicited phone call, email, text, or social media message to ask for sensitive information, passwords, pins, or verification codes. Learn more.
How you can protect yourself
Protecting your identity and finances is a joint effort. We work around the clock to keep you safe, but you also have an important role to play.
Key online banking safety tips
Avoid scams
Know how to tell when you’re really talking to us and when it’s someone trying to trick you.
Protect your devices
Get free security software that helps you avoid fraud and malware while browsing online.
Arm yourself with knowledge
Arm yourself with knowledge by visiting our Learning Center and reading our brochures about protecting yourself from cybercrime and common scams.
How we’ll contact you
Not sure if an email, call or text is really from BMO? Here’s how you can know when it’s really us.
BMO Secure Email is a process that allows us to send you confidential information, including attachments, and lets you respond securely.
All messages you send or receive through the BMO Secure Email process are encrypted to protect your privacy.- You’ll only get encrypted emails from someone at BMO you’ve communicated with before.
Get email, text or in-app notifications from us whenever there is unusual activity on your account. You can set up and customize your alerts through online or mobile banking. Learn more about how to set up alerts for your:
You’ll receive a verification code (one-time passcode) from us when we detect activity that isn’t typical for you and we want to check that it’s really you making the transaction.
- Get your verification code either by text, email or automated voice call.
- Enter the code as instructed to show us it’s really you.
Having trouble with your verification code? No problem. Try entering that code again, and if it’s still not working, you can request a new code.
Important: BMO will never contact you via unsolicited phone call, email, text or social media message asking for sensitive information, passwords, PINs or verification codes (one-time passcodes). If you get a call, voicemail, email, text or social media message 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.
How we protect you
Your security is essential. Find out how we keep you and your info safe when banking.
Tools to help protect yourself
BMO Alerts
The sooner you can spot unusual activity in your accounts, the sooner you can take action. When you activate BMO Alerts, you can be notified when transactions take place and respond quickly if something doesn’t feel right.
Learn more about setting up alerts for your: Debit card | Credit card | Small business credit card
CreditView and Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft can have a lasting impact on your financial well-being. With BMO CreditView and Identity Theft Protection, you can monitor your credit and help protect your identity.
Safe browsing with IBM® Trusteer Rapport®
Avoid online fraud and financial malware on your computer with IBM® Trusteer Rapport®. Download this free software to secure your desktop browser while you bank online, ensuring your account activity can’t be tampered with. You can also use it on other sites where you read or send personal information.
Learn more and download Trusteer Rapport® for free (available for Windows and MacOS)
FAQs
Trusteer Rapport® protects your private info and devices by checking whether the website you’re using is legitimate. It’s an extra layer of security. The biggest benefit of Trusteer Rapport® is that you can access your account through online banking knowing that you’re on the actual bmo.com/en-us/ website instead of an imposter site that’s pretending to be us.
If you need assistance with Trusteer Rapport®, visit Trusteer Technical Support.
For help with setting up BMO Secure Email, refer to the BMO Secure Email Sign-up Guide (PDF, 3 MB).
BMO Digital Banking and Bill Pay Service Guarantees
We’ll reimburse you for any losses to your personal banking accounts from unauthorized transactions through BMO Digital Banking. As well, if we fail to process a properly scheduled bill payment in BMO Digital Banking in accordance with your instructions, we’ll reimburse any late charges assessed by the biller.
To ensure reimbursement, you'll need to take a few steps to protect your account information, as outlined in our BMO Digital Banking Agreement.
Message and data rates may apply. Contact your wireless carrier for details.
Certain conditions and limitations apply. BMO Online Guarantees apply to personal accounts only and do not apply to commercial or business accounts. For full details, please visit bmo.com/en-us/legal.
Downloading and use of the Trusteer Rapport software is governed by the terms of the Rapport license agreement, which is provided with the software. BMO makes no representation or warranty respecting the software or Trusteer's website. You agree BMO is not responsible for any difficulties, consequences, costs, claims, damages or losses arising in any way whatsoever out of the downloading or use of the software.
Third party websites may have privacy and security policies different from BMO. Links to other websites do not imply the endorsement or approval of such websites. Please review the privacy and security policies of websites reached through links from BMO websites.