BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers

BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers

I received the Bank of Montreal(BMO) message below, although I do not have a BMO account, so I knew right away the email is a scam. The fake email message claims fraudulent transactions have been detected on my account and I need to confirm them. But, instead of following the instructions in the fake email, I called BMO directly and asked them about the two telephone numbers (1-866-418-8151) and (416 849-9003) in the email to ensure they are aware of what is happening and have them confirm the numbers are fakes.

Please do not be fooled by online scammers who are claiming the numbers are legitimate. Always call BMO directly at the telephone number on their website (https://www.bmo.com/) or at the telephone number at the back of your credit card. Doing this will ensure you are talking to BMO and not scammers attempting to trick you into calling them at some fake telephone numbers.

The Fraudulent Bank of Montreal(BMO) Email

From: BMO Fraud Department <BMO.FraudDepartment@bmo.com>

Date: Fri, Sep 22, 2017 at 2:56 PM

Subject: Action Required: Please Confirm Activity

Action Required: Please Confirm Activity

BMO Fraud Protection Services: BMO credit card ending in 6129

Dear,

Protecting your security and the privacy of your information is something we take very seriously at BMO. We want to keep your account secure so we continuously monitor it for potentially fraudulent activity. There are transactions on your account that we need you to confirm were authorized by you.

If you have not already spoken to us please call us at 1-866-418-8151 from within Canada and the U.S.A, or contact the Canadian Operator collect at 416 849-9003 at your earliest convenience and speak with a fraud specialist. If you prefer, you can call us on the number on the back of your card. If we have already talked to you about this there is nothing more for you to do.

Thank you for your help,

Sincerely,

BMO Fraud Department

How does the Bank of Montreal(BMO) Scam work?

The scammers send emails or text messages to their potential victims, or call their potential victims' numbers and leave a voice message, asking them to call the fake telephone numbers. If the potential victims call the numbers, they will be asked by a human or an Automated Interactive Voice Response system to enter their credit card and other information. If the requested information is entered, it will be sent to the cybercriminals behind the scam, who will use it fraudulently.

Therefore, BMO customers who have been tricked by the scam are asked to contact BMO for help immediately at the telephone number at the back of their cards.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments(Total: 35)

February 23, 2024 at 12:45 PM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Madison, Wisconsin, United States

IT IS REAL! Please call the number on the back of your card to confirm there is no fraud on your account. Luckily, mine was a false alarm. The number 1-866-418-8151 is a real BMO fraud prevention number. I called on the back of my card rather than the given number to confirm and he said this was a real number for BMO, but that it is always good idea to check and make sure! Please always call the number directly from your card rather than what you are given to verify if bank related calls are legitimate or not.

Delete

August 11, 2022 at 11:26 AM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Downtown, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I have received the same email from BMO, I called the number provided. And later I double checked with the number provided at the back of my card: 1-800-263-2263. They said it is a LEGITIMATE NUMBER! If you have any doubt, just call the number at the back of your credit card! Do not ignore any possible security breach!

Delete

May 10, 2023 at 4:39 PM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Whitehead Crossroads, Florida, United States

You're saying the number on the card is legitimate? Does that even make sense? Of course it is.

Delete

February 22, 2023 at 5:32 PM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Dorval, Quebec, Canada

Lier! That number is a fraud

Delete

February 28, 2022 at 8:29 AM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Centretown-Downtown, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I received a voice recorded call from 1-866-418-8151 showing up in call display as BMO, saying there had been fraudulent activity and to urgently call their fraud department at that same #. I did not - I called the number on the back of my card instead. The real BMO confirmed that there had been no fraudulent activity. I have to assume that was a scam.

Delete

July 20, 2021 at 2:57 PM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

I received the call from the same number. However, origial number started with 011 - international calling. Thanks for this communication.

Delete

March 24, 2021 at 1:12 PM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Downtown, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

We received a phone call from BMO at 1

1-866-418-8151

This is a scam call... I verified it on a google search of the number

Delete

October 16, 2022 at 11:49 AM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Absolutely not lol that is the right number I work at bmo you pie

Delete

September 22, 2020 at 9:41 AM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I received a call from MasterCard clamming it's BMO MasterCard, they said my card ending in 233 will be deactivated and that they will send a new one. They only needed my address LOL and full name - this is a scam call. BMO should do something about the situation, I am not a BMO customer, nor I want to be one, after the fraud calls and emails and them dont doing nothing at all to protect their customers.

Delete

September 22, 2020 at 2:47 PM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Markham, Ontario, Canada

The above phone number is a legitimate number. Although you are not a BMO customer, please do your due diligence and contact the bank directly if you are concerned. By posting such incorrect information you’re preventing actual fraud victims from getting the help they need. Your number is probably an old phone number of the actual BMO customer they are trying to reach. If you are reading this and you have received a call from 1866 418 8151 CALL THE NUMBER ON THE BACK OF YOUR CARD OR GO TO THE NEAREST BRANCH TO CONFIRM. I ignored their emails and phone calls for months and was frauded because I chose to listen to incorrect posts like this m***n above me!

Delete

June 30, 2020 at 9:43 AM by
BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers
an anonymous user from: Canada

a broker asked me for a certain amount of fees to secure BMO 1st mortgage for me as if I apply on my own I wont get it due to a bundh of papers to submit they can over pass this as they are big investors in BMO does this sound normal to you?

and once I get the mortgage is this ok or bmo can take it back at any time mind you I have a lot of equity in the property

Delete

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Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

BMO Fraud Department Fake Emails and Telephone Numbers