FAQs

Here are some tips for protecting your money:

• Don’t disclose your PIN, passwords, security codes or one time passcodes to anyone. Legitimate banks and lenders will not ask you for this.
• Don’t move your money to a “safe account”. Legitimate banks, lenders and law enforcement will not ask you to do this.
• Stop and think: If something sounds too good to be true, take time to consider and think about the risks of frauds.
• If someone calls claiming to be from a bank, challenge it. Caller IDs, emails and texts can easily be faked, and just because someone tells you they are from a bank doesn’t mean they are. If in doubt, hang up and call them back on a different line and using a number on a recent statement.
• Check before you click: Look out for any emails, phone calls, or SMS messages you think are suspicious, especially when payments are involved
• Avoid oversharing on social media: You shouldn’t post messages on social media about any purchases you are on the verge of making, as this could alert fraudsters who track social media activity.
• Stay alert: As part of the application, always check if the case handler has sent any payment requests before transferring funds.
• Report it: Report any suspicious communications as phishing and do not participate in activities involving sharing personal details or payments.
• Protect yourself: Make sure you are using antivirus-protected software, secured browsers, and up-to-date devices. Avoid accessing confidential information on public networks or devices.
• Test it: Think about sending a test transfer of £1 to the bank account before transferring the full payment to check if the bank details are correct.

If you would like to find out more about how to keep your money safe, UK Finance’s take 5 campaign has loads of great information, tips and tricks and is an initiative we fully support: Take Five – To Stop Fraud.