Online Security

Security and Fraud Awareness

Bad Actors increasingly misuse the names, brands and reputations of established financial institutions to perpetuate fraud.  These schemes may involve emails, telephone calls, websites and other communications that falsely purport to be associated with Brown Brothers Harriman (together with its affiliates, “BBH”).

BBH will never contact you on an unsolicited basis to provide investment advice, offer securities or other investment products for purchase or request login credentials, electronic banking details, or other personal information.  BBH's official website address is https://www.bbh.com, and all legitimate communications from BBH originate from a bbh.com domain. Communications from any other domain purporting to be from BBH are not legitimate.  

Common Fraud Schemes

Be aware of these common fraud schemes:

  • Email or SMS (Text) Phishing: Messages encouraging you to click on a link, open or download an attachment, scan a quick-response (QR) code, or disclose personal informaion.
  • Phone (Vishing) Scams: Calls from individuals claiming to represent a trusted institution, often emphasizing urgency and requesting sensitive information or directing you to a malicious website.
  • Social Media Impersonations: Fraudulent accounts using branding, logo or employee likenesses of a trusted institution.
  • Messaging Application Scams: Investment solicitation or transaction requests initiated through chat or social media platforms.
  • Bank Transfer Scams: Requests to transfer funds or promises of unusually high returns with little or no risk
  • Fraudulent and Lookalike Domains: Emails or websites intentionally created to mimic a legitimate domain, often used to trick users into revealing sensitive information or performing unintended actions.

BBH and Social Media

BBH maintains a presence on LinkedIn and Facebook for marketing and professional networking. BBH does not conduct business, provide investment advice, or execute transactions through social media or public messaging platforms or applications, including – but not limited to – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat. If you believe you are conducting business with someone purporting to be from BBH on any such platform, it is not legitimate.

Protecting Yourself

  • Exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited communications.
  • Upon receipt of an unsolicited communication, do not disclose passwords, login credentials, or sensitive personal or financial information.
  • Use strong, unique passwords that are hard to guess and consider using a password manager application.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available. BBH requires MFA to access BBH.com
  • Be wary of communications that convey urgency, pressure or threats – these are common fraud tactics.
  • Block unwanted calls and text messages. 
  • Review your financial accounts regularly for unusual activity.
  • Verify contact details and website addresses using official sources before responding to any communication or providing personal information.
  • Avoid installing mobile applications from unverified or unofficial sources, such as links shared in messaging apps or social media.

Reporting Fraud

If you receive communication, encounter a website, or identify an application that appears to misuse BBH’s name or branding, please contact BBH at contactus@bbh.com.

If you feel that you may be the victim of fraud, or that you have been in contact with an individual(s) who may have been impersonating bank personnel, we encourage you to contact your legal advisor and/or law enforcement.

Additional Resources

BBH provides the following external resources for general informational purposes only and is not responsible for their content.

United States

  • The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) website: contains tips and information on understanding online privacy, how to protect your devices from hackers and threats, and how to avoid common online scams. (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/privacy-identity-online-security)
  • IdentityTheft.gov: a resource maintained by the FTC on reporting Identity Theft and starting a recovery plan. (https://www.identitytheft.gov/)
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): provides tips and information on cybercrimes and how to report a crime to the FBI. (https://www.ic3.gov/)
  • Scams, Fraud and Cybercrime: a resource maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services, BBH’s primary regulator, providing information on how to recognize and reports scams and suspected fraud . (https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/fraud_cyber_protection)

Europe

  • OLAF – European Anti-Fraud Office: OLAF investigates fraud against the EU budget, corruption, and serious misconduct within the European institutions, and develops anti-fraud policy for the European Commission. (https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu/index_en)
  • Report Fraud: the UK’s Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre. (https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/)
  • FCA Firm Checker: a resource provided by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority to find out if financial services firms are authorized by the FCA and have permission to offer a financial product or service. (https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/fca-firm-checker)
  • CSSF: recognizing and protecting against fraud in Luxembourg.  (https://www.cssf.lu/en/financial-fraud/#:~:text=Last%20update:%2029%20January%202021.%20Financial)
  • Luxembourg's official cyberfraud prevention platform: offers contact points and suggestions based on the type of fraud. (https://www.cyberfraud.lu/en)
  • Central Bank of Ireland: guidance on avoiding scams and unauthorized activity. (https://www.centralbank.ie/regulation/how-we-regulate/authorisation/unauthorised-firms/avoiding-scams-and-unauthorised-activity)
  • Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC): provides information about scams, helping consumers recognize and avoid fraudulent activities. (https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/money/scams/)
  • Switzerland National Cyber Security Center (NCSC): provides information on various cyber threats and how to stay protected and offers this anti-phishing website where suspected phishing websites can be reported.  (https://www.ncsc.admin.ch/ncsc/en/home.html) and (https://www.antiphishing.ch/en/)
  • Poland Ministry of Digitization: informational articles about phishing, vishing, basics of cybersecurity and more. (https://www.gov.pl/web/baza-wiedzy)
  • Polish Financial Supervision Authority – Information about cyber investment frauds. (https://www.knf.gov.pl/dla_konsumenta/kampanie_informacyjne/cyberoszustwa_inwestycyjne)

Asia

  • Hong Kong Monetary Authority: FAQs and tips to combat fraud. (https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/smart-consumers/beware-of-fraudsters/)
  • SFC Alert Lists: Resource listing entities and websites that appear to be targeting investors in Hong Kong without proper authorization or are suspected of being involved in fraudulent or misleading activities. (https://www.sfc.hk/en/Alert_List)
  • ADCC: Hong Kong’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre. (https://www.adcc.gov.hk/en-hk/home.html)
  • Hong Kong’s Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC): a resource designed to help individuals identify and respond to scams and fraud. (https://www.ifec.org.hk/web/en/moneyessentials/scams/index.page)
  • Japan Anti-Fraud Organization: guidance on how to recognize, prevent and report fraudulent activity in Japan. (https://japanantifraud.org/)
  • Japanese FSA: guidance website published by the Financial Services Agency to help prevent financial fraud. (https://www.fsa.go.jp/receipt/toushisagi_koukoku/shuhou.html)

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