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Be wary if you get a phone call from someone claiming to be an IT support person. When making payments, be sure to check the payee's bank details and the amount. Your log-in details are confidential, never share them with anyone!

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Cybersecurity

Digital security is a top priority for us at BCV.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips and best practices, to help you keep your data secure as you use our digital banking services.

Report an incident of theft or fraud

Here’s what you should do right away if your card is lost or stolen, or if you see transactions on your account that you didn’t originate.

Learn more

Don’t fall for online scams

Criminals have developed a variety of strategies to gain access to your banking information and steal your money.

Learn more

Use digital banking systems securely

Follow our tips to keep your data secure when you use BCV-net, BCV Mobile, and BCV TWINT.

Learn more

Report an incident of theft or fraud

If your card or phone has been lost or stolen, or if you think someone may have attempted to scam you, call us immediately at 0844 228 228 (open 24/7).

See below for specific instructions.
 

Has your Visa Debit card been lost or stolen? Block it immediately!

On BCV Mobile:
Go to More > Cards > Settings Card > Block the card

By phone:
Call us at 0844 228 228

DISPUTE A PAYMENT (IN FRENCH)
 

Has your credit card been lost or stolen? Block it immediately!

On the Viseca one app:
Go to Card > Lock

By phone:
Call Viseca at 058 958 84 00

Here’s what to do if you suspect you’ve been a victim of fraud (such as through a fake website):

  • Check your pending transactions right away and cancel any that you didn’t originate. Also be sure to check your securities accounts and any other accounts for which you have access rights.
  • Block access to your BCV-net and BCV Mobile accounts by entering the wrong security code three times in a row. Note that this will block only access to your accounts and not any approved transactions.
  • Call us immediately at 0844 228 228.
  • Change all your passwords.
  • Run an antivirus scan of your computer(s) and email system.
  • Report the incident to the police and give them all the information you have (the URL of the fake website, the caller’s phone number, etc.).
     

Has your smartphone been lost or stolen?

Call us immediately at 0844 228 228 – at any time of day or night – so that we can block your BCV TWINT account.

Never give out your login details or card numbers

BCV will never ask for your confidential login details, credit or debit card numbers, or CVV numbers, nor will we ask you to scan a QR code. If someone makes such a request, terminate the conversation immediately.

Don’t fall for online scams

Criminals have devised a number of scams for obtaining customers’ banking information and stealing their money. These scams are well honed and well practiced, and planned down to the last detail. Criminals usually start by pretending to be a legitimate contact, such as a tech support employee, someone wanting to buy or sell an item online, or even a bank advisor.

Below are some examples of common scams, so that you can learn to identify them and spot risky situations.
Always proceed very carefully when you’re contacted by someone you don’t know or receive a message out of the blue.
 

 

In this kind of scam, a criminal impersonating a BCV advisor pressures you to reveal sensitive information or take some kind of action with regard to your bank accounts.

  • You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a BCV advisor. This person (in reality, a criminal) tells you there has been suspicious activity on your BCV account or that there is an urgent issue with the account.
  • The criminal on the phone uses legitimate information obtained from other sources to gain your trust.
  • The criminal then asks you to provide your login details, scan a QR code, change your security settings, or approve a request in BCV Mobile in order to “keep your money safe.”

  • BCV will never ask you for your login details – never share them with anyone.
  • Never change your security settings in BCV-net or BCV Mobile because someone asks you to.
  • Whenever you receive a request to approve an action in BCV Mobile, check it carefully. If you aren’t sure who carried out the action, don’t approve the request.
  • Hang up immediately if the caller becomes pushy or tries to get you to act in a hurry.
  • If you suspect fraud, call us immediately at 0844 228 228. You can use the same number to block your accounts outside of business hours.

Watch out if someone:

  • tries to worry or scare you into doing something
  • pressures you to do something
  • asks for your personal information
  • asks you to change your security settings in BCV-net or BCV Mobile
  • asks you to approve an operation in BCV Mobile that you did not carry out yourself

 

In this kind of scam, a criminal pretending to be from tech support instructs you to install software on your computer. They then use the software to take over your computer and steal your bank account data, and eventually make fraudulent payments.
 

  • You receive a phone call from someone claiming to work for a tech support company. This person (in reality, a criminal) tells you your computer has been hacked and infected with a virus.
  • Or perhaps your computer suddenly freezes and the number of a tech support company appears on the screen.
  • The criminal on the phone asks you to install software so that they can take over your computer and remove the virus.
  • Then, with the excuse of needing to run tests or enable you to pay for the service, the criminal asks you to provide your credit or debit card details or log into your online banking system.
  • This gives the criminal your banking information, which they use to make fraudulent payments.
     

Never give out your login details or card numbers.

Remember that BCV will never ask you for your security codes or payment card numbers.

Never log into your online banking system when somebody else has control of your computer.

Watch out if someone:

  • tries to worry or scare you into doing something
  • pushes you to act in a hurry
  • asks you to install software on your computer
  • asks for your login details
  • asks you to approve an online banking transaction
  • asks you to provide a code sent by text message or to scan a QR code
  • asks you to log into your online banking system.
     

 

Another way criminals try to get your banking information (like your credit card number) is to send out fake emails and text messages. These messages could also direct you to a fake website that looks almost exactly like your bank’s website.  

  • You receive an email or text message that appears to come from your bank, since it contains your bank’s name, logo, and colors.
  • The message asks you to provide confidential banking information – your credit card number or login details, for example – for some made-up reason (such as a system upgrade or to update your file).
  • The criminal who sent the message uses this information to make fraudulent payments.
  • Or perhaps the message asks you to log into your online banking system via a link in the message. This link directs you to a fake website resembling that of your bank.
  • When you enter your login details into this website, the criminal records the information and uses it make fraudulent payments.
     

Always type your bank’s URL address manually into your browser (www.bcv.ch for BCV).

Delete suspicious emails.

If you’re not sure whether an email appearing to be from your bank is authentic, contact the bank directly.

Never give your login details or card numbers to a third party.

Watch out if someone:

  • tries to worry or scare you into doing something
  • pushes you to act in a hurry
  • asks for your login details, security codes, or card numbers
  • asks you to approve an online banking transaction
  • asks you to provide a code sent by text message or to scan a QR code
  • asks you to log into your online banking system

 

This scam targets people who want to buy or sell something on an online marketplace. A criminal contacts a prospective buyer or seller and asks them to provide their banking information, ostensibly to complete the transaction.

  • Suppose you’ve put an item up for sale on an online marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace, Anibis, or Ricardo.
  • You’re contacted by someone who would like to purchase the item and pay for it through a money transfer service (PayPal or Western Union, for example).
  • The individual (in reality, a criminal) sends you a link where you can sign up for the transfer service and provide your confidential banking information, such as your online banking password or credit card number.
  • Then, in order to “complete the transaction,” the criminal sends you a QR code to scan with your mobile banking app. This opens an online banking session without your knowledge, which the criminal uses to make fraudulent payments.
     

Never give your login details or card numbers to a third party.

Never use your mobile banking app to scan a QR code sent by a third party.

Exchange items in person whenever possible.
 

Watch out if someone:

  • insists that payments are made through a money transfer service like PayPal, MoneyGram, Western Union, or Wise
  • says they can’t meet in person to exchange the item
  • asks for your online banking information or card number even though you’re the one selling the item
  • wants to buy the item from you, but is located in another country.
     

 

Online marketplaces are increasingly popular options for selling second-hand goods like children’s clothing, furniture, and concert tickets. Unfortunately, criminals are highly active on these websites and use fake accounts to trick users out of their money. You’ve got to be very careful when using these websites and keep your eye out for fake accounts.

If you’re using Facebook Marketplace, check whether the individual’s or company’s profile has been verified (look for the blue verification badge).

Also check the profile details – name, picture, when it was created, content (followers and posts), and the associated URL address.

If the individual or company has an account on another social network (such as X or Instagram), compare the profile details and especially the bio, or look up the individual or company on Google.
 

  • The name in the associated URL address doesn’t match the one on the profile page.
  • The account name is very short, such as a first name followed by a series of numbers.
  • The profile was created a short time ago and there’s no picture (or only a very recent one).
  • The account has very few followers, and they’re spread out in different countries.
  • There are very few posts on the account and the timeline is very recent.
  • The person who wants to buy or sell something is located in a different country.
  • Messages written by the person contain a lot of spelling and/or grammar mistakes.

Use digital banking systems securely

Click on the names of our digital banking systems below for security tips on each one.

BCV-net

BCV Mobile

BCV TWINT

Use the internet securely, starting with the BCV website

  • Make sure you’re on BCV’s official website before you log into your BCV-net account.
  • Always type in BCV’s URL address manually (www.bcv.ch ).
  • Do not use public computers, such as those available for guests at hotels.

Make sure your connection is secure

Look for the following features:

  • A lock icon in the address bar
  • BCV’s name, which will appear either next to the lock icon or in the window that opens when you click on the icon (“Certificate issued for…”).

 

Stay secure when you use the BCV Mobile app on your smartphone

  • Download the app only from official stores.
  • Regularly update the app and your smartphone’s operating system.
  • Lock your smartphone with a PIN or facial or fingertip recognition.

Be careful when purchasing items on an online marketplace

  • Never scan QR codes sent by users you haven’t verified.
  • Never use the five-digit payment codes sent by sellers on these marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, Anibis, etc.).

Keep your eyes peeled when sending and receiving money

  • Never approve a payment to someone you don’t know.
  • Don’t accept a payment request unless you’re specifically expecting one.
  • If you’re not sure you have the right phone number for a beneficiary, ask the beneficiary to send you a payment request (as opposed to you initiating the payment directly).
  • That way, you can be sure you send the money to the right person.

Additional cybersecurity resources

We all have a part to play in keeping our data safe and secure. To learn more about digital risks – and how to reduce them – check out these two resources:

Card-Security.ch

This website provides easy-to-follow guidance on how to avoid debit and credit card fraud. It was set up by the Swiss police and the Swiss financial sector and features quizzes, tips, examples of fraud attempts, and best practices.

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU)

HSLU provides a number of resources – both tips and articles – on how to do your online banking safely. It also offers training courses on different aspects of digital security.

Other legal information

Please read our website and email Terms and Conditions before using our website or contacting us by email.

In principle, any information and/or documents appearing on this website that relate to financial instruments or services within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA) are considered advertising materials pursuant to this Act.

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