At Butterfield, we work hard to safeguard you and your information from the impact of cybercrime. Protecting your privacy and personal information is very important to us. We would like to share some useful tips to protect your finances and bank safely online.
If you receive a fraudulent or suspicious e-mail, please forward it to [email protected] and then mark it as SPAM or block the sender in your e-mail service.
Helpful Information and Tips on What You Can Do to Protect Yourself.
- If you’re accessing Butterfield Online from outside this website, always type in the domain name: www.butterfieldonline.com (Bermuda and the Cayman Islands); https://ci.butterfieldonline.com (Guernsey and Jersey).
- Choose strong passwords and do not use the same PIN and password for everything.
- Use a “Password Manager” to help store and protect your passwords.
- Secure your computer with anti-virus/firewall software and keep current with your security updates.
- Be wary of links in e-mails or phone calls that appear to be from us, especially if they are unexpected. We will never ask you to disclose your credentials, PIN or online OPT security codes.
- Always access your accounts from a secure location and device that you know and trust.
- Monitor your accounts regularly or subscribe to account activity alerts and report anything you do not recognise.
- Always log out of your online banking session when you have completed your transactions.
- Be careful what you share on social media. Check what is publicly and privately shown on the internet.
- NEVER SHARE YOUR ONE-TIME PASSWORDS WITH ANYONE. BUTTERFIELD WILL NEVER ASK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION.
Useful External Resources
Please see below for links for additional publicly available cybersecurity advice.
Are you a victim of fraud?
If you are a personal banking client and have fallen victim to fraud you can contact our Call Centre using the numbers below or report card fraud using the numbers on the back of your debit/credit card(s). You can report suspicious e-mails to [email protected]
Butterfield Bermuda: +1 (441) 295 1111
Butterfield Cayman: +1 (345) 949 7055
Butterfield online banking fraud teams also require that you contact your local police force to report the incident and get a Crime Report Number. Getting a report number is essential to progressing on the reported fraud.
To Report Fraud to the Bermuda Police Financial Crimes Team.
[email protected]
+1 (441) 247-1757
To Report Fraud to the Cayman Islands Police Financial Crimes Team.
[email protected]
+1 (345) 949-8797
To Report Fraud to the UK Authorities.
Online reporting tool link - Reporting fraud and cyber crime | Action Fraud
+44 300 123 2040
One of the most common ways criminals attempt to gain access to bank accounts is through the use of so-called “phishing” e-mails. These are e-mails sent to customers and appear to originate at their financial institutions, but do not; they are fraudulent. Such e-mails typically ask customers to visit a website through a provided link to “update,” “unlock,” or “verify” their online banking credentials. The site to which the customer is directed is designed to capture the customers’ online banking credentials and allow the criminals to gain access to the customer’s account(s).
You’ll first notice scams when you get an unsolicited e-mail requesting an urgent response. The e-mail usually claims to be from a bank, credit card company or some other financial service you might use. It usually asks you to send your account details and sometimes your password, either by return e-mail or through a website. This is the process by which you are tricked into disclosing your password, PIN or bank account details to criminals using the Internet. They often use the excuse that a large transaction has recently passed through your account and they require your details to verify its validity. Other tricks are used to lower your guard, such as “security and maintenance upgrades”, “investigation of irregular account activity” or “bills or charges due”.
Watch out: Some scam e-mails look surprisingly genuine. Fraudsters scan the internet for e-mail addresses or generate them at random. They don't need an online service provider's mailing list. They may send just a few dozen e-mails but sometimes thousands. Even if only a few unsuspecting people respond, it can be worth the effort. These attempted frauds can look genuine by using: the names of real people; the right logos and branding; links to pages from the real website; official-looking fine print; a site that mimics the real thing.
The success of each fraudulent e-mail depends entirely on fooling the recipient. However with closer attention, you can easily pick out warning signs:
Website address: this can be easily faked. Is the address spelt accurately? You should only access our official website. Type in the website address https://www.butterfieldonline.com yourself and never click on links sent by e-mail.
Website look and feel: does the website look genuine and like our online webpages? Is the spelling and formatting correct?
Contact details: does the e-mail address look legitimate? Hover over the e-mail address and check that it really comes from @butterfieldgroup.com
General appearance: fraudulent e-mails will often have poor spelling, bad grammar, generally look sloppy and state a false sense of urgency to follow their instructions.
Stay calm
It's natural to be alarmed by an e-mail claiming your account has been frozen, or your credit card information has been stolen. Resist your first impulse to reply. Never follow the instructions in the e-mail.
Suspect a scam if you're asked for your account details or your passwords by e-mail.
We will never ask for your account details or passwords by e-mail. Only go to the official Butterfield website or Butterfield Online sites by typing the URL in the address bar of your web browser.
Never click any hyperlink in an e-mail, as you cannot be certain where it will direct you.
Keep your computer secure
You should avoid clicking on any attachments in suspicious e-mails. Some frauds can lure you into opening an e-mail or attachment that secretly installs "trojan" software. Trojan software allows fraudsters to monitor your computer and access your accounts. Install effective protection on your computer, and keep it up to date.
Avoid conducting personal banking transactions using public WiFi (at internet cafés, community centres and libraries, for example).
In some places, criminals have loaded software that records keystrokes. Check that nobody is looking over your shoulder and keep private information out of chat rooms or e-mail where possible use a secure website address starting with "https". Protect your e-mail address accordingly.
Act quickly
If you think you've been conned or your accounts have been compromised you can contact our Call Centre using the numbers below or report card fraud using the numbers on the back of your debit/credit card(s).
Butterfield Bermuda +1 (441) 295 1111
Butterfield Cayman +1 (345) 949 7055
You can report suspicious e-mails to [email protected]
If you get a suspicious e-mail contact us directly using the channels above. Please do not respond to any contact details in the e-mail as they probably belong to the fraudster. Do not click on any links or open attachments.
If you're still uncertain or if you have sent any details through an e-mail or website you're a bit worried about, contact us and ask to confirm the e-mail's authenticity.
Subscribe to online banking account activity alerts and monitor your account statements for any suspicious activity.