Lost money to a
Safe Account Scam?

How to spot a Safe Account Scam

1. 1

   An urgent call from your 'bank' or the 'police'

   You're told your account has been compromised and you must act immediately. Real banks and the police will never ask you to move money to a 'safe' account.

2. 2

   The caller knows a lot about you

   Scammers use previously leaked data to sound convincing — your name, address, sort code, even recent transactions. Legitimacy of information does not mean legitimacy of the caller.

3. 3

   They ask you to move money to a 'safe' or 'holding' account

   This is the giveaway. There is no such thing as a safe account you need to transfer to. Any account you're told to send money to belongs to the fraudster.

4. 4

   They tell you to keep the call secret

   You may be told not to speak to branch staff or family because there is an 'internal investigation'. This isolates you from anyone who could stop the transfer.

5. 5

   Caller ID appears to match your bank's number

   Number spoofing is trivial. Always hang up and call your bank back using the number on the back of your card, from a different phone if possible.

6. 6

   You were pressured to ignore warnings at the branch or in-app

   Under the CRM Code and new APP reimbursement rules, if your bank failed to warn you effectively or investigate properly, you may be entitled to a refund even after authorising the payment.