In today’s hi-tech world, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the amount of information we are bombarded with every day. Here at Leek Building Society we are supporting the UK Finance’s Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign, to help improve customer awareness in relation to fraud.
Banks, building societies and other trusted organisations will never ask you for your PIN or full banking password in an email, text message or phone call. If someone you don’t know contacts you out of the blue to ask for sensitive information, there is a good chance it’s a scam – no matter how plausible the message seems. Never reveal your financial or personal details to someone unless you are 100% sure who they are. If in doubt, say no.
Just because someone knows some basic details about you, such as your name, address and information about your family, it doesn’t mean they are genuine. This kind of information is easy to obtain if you know where to look. Fraudsters may pretend to be helping you, for example, by saying you’ve been a victim of fraud. They can disguise their phone number to make it appear to be from a trusted source. These are some of the ways they get you to reveal your security details and gain access to your accounts.
A legitimate bank or building society will never ask you to make a financial transaction on the spot, such as moving money to a ‘safe’ account. Take your time and think through what you are being asked to do, don’t be put under pressure.
Always take time to question anything you’re being asked to do with your account or other sensitive information. If something feels wrong, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it, it probably is. There’s no need to be embarrassed about saying no. It’s perfectly fine to end a conversation if you no longer feel comfortable – a legitimate bank or building society will understand. You can always call them back on a number you trust, whether off previous correspondence, a business card or their website.
A legitimate bank or building society will never call to tell you another financial institution is experiencing difficulty and request you act immediately. Remember, your funds are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the event of a firm failing.
You can find out more about fraud and what you can do to protect yourself from the following websites:
www.actionfraud.police.uk - the UKs national fraud and internet crime reporting centre.
www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk - Take Five is a national campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud.
Phishing is when scammers attempt to trick you into clicking on a link in an email and giving them your personal information.
During a phone call, a scammer will try to get you to share personal information and financial details, or ask to withdraw or transfer your finances.
Smishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving them your private information via a link contained in a text message.
Scammers use dating websites, social networks, chat rooms, emails and adverts to get personal details or money from people.
If you believe you’ve fallen for a scam, contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your debit or credit card.
Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk. If you are in Scotland, please report to Police Scotland directly by calling 101 or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060.
Scams happen when criminals convince you to part with your money making it very difficult to get it back.
The cost of living crisis has meant that many families are facing extra financial pressures due to the increasing living, housing, and energy costs. Scammers are taking advantage of this and are posing as genuine agencies, such as DWP, to trick individuals into handing over personal details and their money.
To help prevent you from becoming a victim of one of these, we have put together a list of the current scams that are being used by fraudsters along with some steps you can take to avoid them.
The Government recently announced a cost-of-living payment which will be sent automatically to those who are eligible with no application needed. Fraudsters have been sending texts pretending to be from the Government or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) asking people to apply. They may also send fraudulent emails. You do not need to apply for this payment.
If you receive a text or email claiming to be from a Government Agency or service provider, don’t open any links or attachments or provide any private information or detail.
If you feel that you have been a victim of one of these scams get in touch with Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 or call the police on 101. If you have shared any of your account details please get in touch with Leek Building Society.
Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726, this will report the message to your mobile phone provider free of charge.
You can also forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk – the National Cyber Security Centre will investigate it.
Beware of scams on Facebook Marketplace which have become increasingly common, especially during the cost-of-living crisis.
When shopping online, be cautious – remember that some items might not actually exist – before buying, aways ask yourself “does this offer seem too good to be true?”
Sellers might try to put you under pressure and rush you to pay immediately, or request payment through a bank transfer.
If you encounter any of these situations, please avoid making the purchase.
At Leek Building Society, we understand that it is our responsibility to ensure that all of our customers’ personal and financial details are kept secure and private. We hope you find the following helpful ideas useful to enable you to do the same at home.
