We are committed to keeping your everyday banking secure so you can manage your accounts and payments with confidence.
To help you learn how you can protect yourself from fraudsters, read our guidance so that you can spot common scams and know how to avoid them.
While we may contact you to discuss the operation of your account, to send you product related messages, or for feedback on your banking experience, please remember these points:
Send you a text or email with a link directly to the login page of our online banking channels.
Send you a text or email with a direct link to your latest e-Statement.
Ask you to click a link in an email with an urgent warning about suspicious activity on your account. (We may sometimes send you an email to verify a transaction on your account but we will never ask you to provide confidential information or click a link to verify a transaction).
Ask you to share or send us your full six-digit 365 PIN, four-digit card PIN or Business On Line credentials
Ask you to send us back your bank card
Ask you to transfer money out of your account to protect yourself from fraud.
Request your account information through an onscreen pop-up window.
Call you to ask you to make a payment to another account.
Ask you to tell us any ‘one-time password’ or code that you have received from us by text.
Protect your PIN. Never share your online banking PIN or card PIN with anyone. Remember: Bank of Ireland will never ask you for your full six-digit 365 PIN.
Cover your PIN. Make sure you are not being overlooked or distracted when entering your PIN in a public place, such as at an ATM or supermarket checkout.
Beware of links in fake texts and emails. Don’t click on any unexpected links or attachments – they could infect your device or direct you to a fake website designed to collect your personal and account information.
Beware of fake calls claiming to be from Bank of Ireland or another trusted company. Remember: Bank of Ireland will never ask you to transfer money out of your account to protect yourself from fraud.
Check your accounts regularly for any unusual activity. If you do find anything suspicious, tell us.
Use up to date anti-virus software and always keep operating system software up to date with the latest versions on all your devices.
Keep your passwords secure. Use strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed and use a different one for each online account.
Limit what you share on social media. The more information you share, the more you put yourself at risk of identity theft and fraud.
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, an international campaign to raise awareness of cyber security threats and how best to handle them.
We are committed to keeping your banking secure but it’s still important that you know how you can protect yourself from online fraudsters.
In Security Zone, you can learn about common scams and threats and how to avoid them, watch our short ‘stay safe online’ video, download brochures or find important numbers you can call to report concerns.
Learn more about different types of fraudster tactics here
Buying online this Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Read our top tips guide to help you stay safe online
Use up to date anti-virus software on your computer – this will help protect it against malware.
Think before you click – planning ahead can help and make sure you double check website addresses for anything unusual.
Be careful with links in emails and texts – remember that fake links or ads could lead you to a fraudulent website or contain malicious software.
Use trusted websites – check that the ‘https’ and the lock symbol is displayed, this needs to be in your browser address window when entering your card details or any personal information.
On a mobile device use trusted apps – it can be difficult to see the full web address on mobile if you are using a web browser so instead stick with trusted apps.
Keep your passwords long and unique – make sure to mix your passwords up with special characters, capital letters and numbers and use a different password for each site.
Check your bank statements – if you don’t recognise a transaction, contact your bank or card issuer.
Help for older people
For those of us that didn’t grow up using computers every day they can sometimes seem confusing and more than a little scary, but that’s no reason not to use them.
Computers and the internet open up a world of information and experiences to all age groups, allowing us to keep in touch with friends and relatives a thousand miles away, or in the next village. We can order groceries for delivery from the comfort of our homes. Missed that programme on TV? No problem! Catch-up TV is hugely popular on the internet. Whether it’s making everyday tasks easier or learning new skills, the internet can help.
However, as well as opening up lots of positive opportunities there are plenty of people looking to take advantage of internet users, whatever their age.
To help you learn how you can protect yourself from fraud, read our guidance so that you can spot common scams and know how to avoid them. To read and download our brochures, please click here.
Our online banking websites are encrypted to protect your information
They are also protected by a firewall (a barrier between the internet and our internal bank network)
A secure browser is needed to access account information and transact
Logging on and Timing out
When you log on to Bank of Ireland 365 online, we’ll ask you for:
A private and individual User ID
3 random digits from your 365 login PIN
A push notification will be sent to your registered mobile device or PSK asking you to approve the login, you will need to swipe to approve.
This information is encrypted and will stay private if you don’t disclose it.
For Business On Line customers, your last log on details will show when you log on. This means you’ll know if someone else has accessed your account online
If you’re inactive for a while, your online banking session will automatically time out after 5 minutes
Two Factor Authentication
You need a Two Factor Authentication to add or edit a payee on 365 online
We’ll text a code to your registered mobile phone, or send via post if you prefer
Protecting your business with Bank of Ireland Approve
Business On Line uses HID Approve. Approve has been developed by BOI’s chosen security partner HID Global, an industry leader in secure authentication solutions.
Approve generates unique, one-off Secure Codes you can use to log on to Business On Line and authorise payments and payees
Approve offers the following security benefits:
You need a PIN to generate Secure Codes. A unique Secure Code is generated per transaction and expires when used, or after 60 seconds
Approve doesn’t store any information
Approve only works on your registered device, along with your corresponding Business on Line User ID
The app is registered to the individual User
The Business On Line Administrator can lock a User’s profile (for example, if the User goes on holidays, etc.)
The Administrator and your relationship manager will set a Daily Control Limit (DCL) on your Business On Line profile
This limit means your profile is less likely to be exposed to fraud
Protect your Business From Fraud (Business On Line customers)
We have created a helpful checklist of Bank of Ireland Business On Line’s tools available to help protect customers with the security of their online banking here
FraudSMART
Launched in October 2017, FraudSMART is a fraud awareness initiative developed by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) in conjunction with member banks across Ireland, including Bank of Ireland.
The BPFIs new website, FraudSMART.ie, is a ‘one stop shop’, providing education and information on fraud and scams for both business and personal use. The website offers tips, advice, case studies and fraud alerts to help you protect yourself against fraudsters.
The BPFI says that “Fraud can happen to anyone, at any time, but it’s generally simple precautions that can be taken to protect people against getting caught out”.
Guide to Safeguarding your Money Now and in the Future:
The BPFI has launched a new guide aimed at helping consumers safeguard their finances and protect themselves against financial abuse and fraud. If you have concerns about how to manage or access your money or are you concerned about a loved one who may be in need of assistance with their finances, the new guide can help. You can download a copy here.
Guide to Protect Your Business from Fraud
FraudSMART has published a new fraud prevention guide for businesses outlining the common types of financial fraud affecting Irish businesses and providing advice on how to avoid them. A copy of the guide can be downloaded here.
Report fraud
Lost or stolen card?
As soon as you believe your card has been lost or stolen, please get in touch. We’ll cancel your card as soon as you tell us it’s missing and get a new card issued to your address (the one we have on file for you) in 5 to 7 working days.
Fraud, suspicious activity or unauthorised transactions?
To report online fraud, suspicious activity, unauthorised transactions on your account or ATM fraud, please contact us as soon as possible via our Freephone numbers listed below.
Need to be sure that a BoI text is genuine? Use our ‘TextChecker’ Service.
Here is an example of a TextChecker submission:
Here is an example of a TextChecker response:
Remember, fraudsters can insert a fraudulent text into a genuine BOI message thread, we will never text you a link asking you to share your log in details such as your PIN or one-time passcodes.
If you have shared your banking details in response to a suspicious email, text or call, please notify us as soon as possible via the Freephone numbers listed below.
Report a suspicious email or text
To report suspicious Bank of Ireland related emails or texts (both personal and business customers), send the suspicious email or text to 365security@boi.com
