Online account security

Scam messages often include a link to a fake site or a number to call a bogus company.

In this guide we'll show you how to spot these and how we protect you.

For more about how we recognise your computer, please read our privacy policy.

Know it's us when you log in

• Before you enter any details, look out for the genuine address of Online Services, starting with: https://online.mbna.co.uk/personal/logon/login.
• Before you fill in personal or banking details on a site, look for the closed padlock image. You can find it in the browser bar. It means the link to the site is secure.
• A secure site will also have https:// at the start of its address.
• But please note, these do not mean a site is genuine. So make sure you're happy with a site before you log on, fill in any details or pay.
• Never enter your bank PIN or password on a site or in an email.

Check the address

• The address used by a fake site may be very similar to our genuine website addresses. Look closely for spelling differences or the use of symbols, e.g. www.mdna.co.uk, www.mbna@banking.co.uk or www.verify-mbna.co.uk.
• Sometimes fraudsters hide the address of their fake site. To check this, rest your cursor over a link in an email but don't click on it. A box will pop up showing you where you'll go if you click on it. Do you recognise it as a genuine address? If not, it might mean it's a scam.

How to protect yourself

• Register with Online Services so you can check your account regularly for unusual transactions. Please tell us as soon as you notice anything that doesn't look right.
• Review your statements on a regular basis.
• Get in touch with us straight away if you can’t find your card.
• We’ll never send an email or text with a link that asks you to log on or to give your account details. If you get an email or text like this, don’t reply or click on anything, just delete it.
• If we send you an email, it will always greet you by title and surname, as in Dear Mrs Smith. And we always include part of your main account number, or part of your postcode if you don't have an account number yet.
• Keep your personal details up to date so that we can get in touch with you when needed. You can change your address and telephone number using Online Services and the MBNA Mobile App. Find out how to change your personal details.
• Think about registering with the mail preference service at mpsonline.org.uk. This can stop you receiving marketing material which you don't want.
• Shred all confidential letters and paper statements. This helps stop anyone piecing together information about you.
• Before you buy anything online, check for the prefix ‘https://’, in the website address. This shows the site is secure. But please note, it doesn’t mean a site is genuine. So make sure you're happy with a site before you log on, fill in any details or pay.

Keeping your devices safe

• Use a spam filter to help block scam emails.
• Use an anti-virus - Install it and keep it up-to-date. Try to scan for viruses at least once a week and follow the advice. It should tell you when a site is unsafe to visit, or a file is unsafe to open.
• Use a firewall - Keep it on at all times. A device won’t be as secure if you turn it off.
• Keep up to date - Make sure you update your device's operating system, internet browser and software as soon as updates are available. This will help to protect them from the latest scams.

Use different passwords

• It’s safer to use a different, strong password for each account than to use the same one all the time.
• You can use your browser or password manager to help you remember them all. Your browser settings should let you save each password. But make sure your device is kept up to date.
• Create a strong password by choosing three random words. And to keep it safe from other people, don’t share it or write it down.
• To make a password even harder to guess, you can add numbers or special characters. The longer the password, the stronger it is.
• Your first line of defence is your email account. It can hold a lot of your personal details and be used to get into your other online accounts. If you don’t have one already, pick a new strong password for your email account. Then do the same for all your other accounts, like your social media accounts and Online Services.
• If you think someone else knows your Online Services details contact us now.

Social media security

• What you share on social media can be seen by lots of people. So keep important details private to stop them being used by others.
• Don’t use your personal details to create a password. Fraudsters may search through your social media to help them guess your passwords or to try to steal your identity.
• Only connect with people you know. If you’re not sure who someone is, don’t connect with them.
• Fraudsters can open fake accounts or break into other people’s accounts to send scam messages. They can pretend to be a friend or your family. And they often ask for money or banking details. If you get a message like this, call the sender on a number you trust to make sure it’s real. Don’t use a number from a message as this could be part of a scam.
• If you have to register for a site or to enter a competition or quiz, make sure it’s safe before you give any personal details.
• And be careful what you click on. Fraudsters can use links within a message to send you to a fake site or to put a virus on your device.

Think you’ve fallen for a scam?

If your MBNA credit card account has been used without your knowledge or someone knows your Online Services password, call us immediately on 0800 587 0997 (+44 1244 757 231 from outside the UK). Standard network charges may apply.

Report it to Action Fraud

Call 0300 123 2040. Lines are open Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm. Text phone users can ring 0300 123 2050. Again, standard network charges may apply.

They’ll log the incident and provide you with a crime reference number if needed. Action Fraud collect data from across the UK to help banks and other businesses combat fraud.

Security features