Scams to watch out for

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of fraud then please call us on 01228 403141 (Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8.30am to 4pm) to discuss how we can help you and also report your case to Action Fraud.

Keep your money safe

Fraudsters are thinking up inventive ways to gain access to personal information and accounts.

Always remember: Keep your cards safe; Never share your passwords; Be vigilant; If you’re unsure about a contact, hang up and call us back - 01228 403141.

Be aware of the risks

Financial crime can sound scary but a huge part of keeping yourself secure is simply being aware of the risks. You wouldn’t leave your car door open with the keys in the ignition… well keeping your banking secure can be as simple as not handing over the keys.

While our Customer Service and Branch Teams are the accessible part of our effort to combat fraud, we also have a Financial Crime Team that works in the background to keep your money safe.

The Financial Crime Team investigate a wide variety of cyber crimes and fraud attempts but here are four that they think you should be aware of:

Number Spoofing

Fraudsters can make it appear that they are calling/texting from the number of a genuine bank or building society.

A common scam involves someone claiming to be calling from the fraud team to advise there is fraudulent activity on your account. The call is likely to follow this pattern:

1. They sound genuine and often advise you to check the number they are calling from to create a false sense of security.
2. The fraudster will then ask you to confirm your banking details. They may already be aware of some of your details or ask you to confirm the last digits of your card.
3. They may also ask for One Time Passcodes, saying that this is either to verify your identity or cancel a fraudulent transaction.

We would never ask you to disclose any card details or Internet Banking details to prove that it’s you. If in doubt, hang up and give is a call back or speak with us in branch.

Fake Websites

Fraudsters will often release fake websites which appear to be genuine organisations in order to get customers to contact them or input their banking details. Fake websites have been known to appear high on search lists.

Always check the weblink you are clicking on for mis-spellings and unusual use of symbols and punctuation. If unsure, don’t use the link. Log-in to the company’s website by inputting the correct address yourself or contact them through your own account or app rather than a number found online.

Romance Fraud

Fraudsters will use social media platforms, dating sites and online gaming to speak to people over long periods of time to gain their trust. Eventually, they will either directly ask for money or put you in a position where you want to help and offer to send them money. Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online and never met in person.

Investment Scams

There has been a huge increase in investment scams relating to Bitcoin or other digital currencies, often claiming to be endorsed by celebrities. If you are looking to invest, we suggest researching any firm and any financial advisors.

• Search the company on the registers of the official regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) where you can check that they are a regulated firm.
• Search the company on Companies House.
• There may be restrictions on withdrawals. Make sure that your expected returns are realistic: past performance is no predictor of future performance. Your capital is always at risk.

These are just a few examples of how criminals have been trying to trick people in the current climate, but please be aware that scammers are taking advantage in other ways too. HMRC have a list of current scams on their website including what to do if you think you’ve been targeted.

The BBC have recently produced a week of broadcasting under the banner ‘Be Scam Safe’ – much of the information can be found on their website.