Security & Fraud Center
Security & Fraud Center
The security and privacy of your accounts are important to us, which is why we take precautions to safeguard your accounts. Check out the below resources to help keep yourself safe against fraud and scams.
Stay Informed: Latest Fraud Trends
Fraud tactics are evolving quickly. Here are common scams to watch for:
Bank and Program Impersonation Scams
- Fraudsters impersonate banks or government programs and claim there is suspicious activity or an urgent issue requiring your attention.
- Tip: Don’t trust caller ID or unexpected messages. If the fraudsters ask for personal or account information, hang up immediately and contact Bell Bank. Remember, Bell will never call, email or text to ask for your login credentials, one-time verification codes or Social Security number.
Crypto and Investment Scams:
- Also called “pig butchering,” these scams build trust over weeks or months, then pressure you to invest in fake cryptocurrency or trading platforms.
- Tip: Be cautious of unsolicited investment offers, especially those that seem urgent or guaranteed.
Account Takeovers:
- Criminals use stolen usernames and passwords to break into accounts. They may also send repeated login requests to wear you down until you approve one.
- Tip: Use strong, unique passwords and turn on multifactor authentication (MFA).
Phishing and Smishing:
- Emails and text messages that look like they’re from a trusted company – often shipping updates, password resets, or bank alerts – are designed to make you click a malicious link.
- Tip: Don’t click links you weren’t expecting. Go directly to the company’s website.
Business Email Compromise:
- Targeting businesses, criminals impersonate executives, HR, or vendors to redirect payroll or invoice payments.
- Tip: Always verify changes to payment instructions by phone, not email.
Security and Fraud Resources
With Fraud and Scams Increasing, Here’s How to Protect Yourself
With Fraud and Scams Increasing, Here’s How to Protect Yourself
With fraud becoming increasingly sophisticated and hard to catch, it’s essential to educate yourself about what to watch for, and what to do if you think you’ve been affected.
What Businesses Should Know About Fraud and Scams
What Businesses Should Know About Fraud and Scams
Businesses are commonly targeted by three different types of scams, each of which can lead to significant financial losses and potential reputational damage. Learn more about these types of fraud and how to prevent them.
Online Security Videos
Online Security Videos
Watch our video playlist on online banking security to learn how to keep your accounts safe.
Security FAQ's
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Online Banking Security Policy
At Bell Bank, your online information is secure, and you can be confident that no one else has access to it. Signing on to view your accounts from the Bell Bank home page is safe. When you click the Login button, your username and password are encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to keep your information secure.
Even though your online information is as secure as we can make it, you should take precautions against malware or other types of programs criminals use to try to infect your computers and devices and access your personal data. We highly recommend that you install antivirus/anti-malware online security software and make sure it is kept updated. Although Bell does not endorse or provide specific types of security software, some common brands are McAfee, Norton and Avast. (Note: Bell is no longer offering Trusteer Rapport software as a free service.)
Remember, we welcome your questions, suggestions, complaints or compliments – just contact us! However, you should never put personal data such as account numbers, Social Security numbers or other information in an email to us. In fact, Bell Bank will never ask you for your confidential personal or account information via email.
If you receive an email that appears to be from Bell Bank and asks for that information, you may be encountering a “phishing” scam, in which someone is trying to trick you into revealing confidential information.
