Your “bank” called and told you to move your money?
A caller says they're from your bank or the police, that your account is at risk, and that you must move your money to a “safe account”. There is no such thing. Describe what happened below to check it.
What this scam usually looks like
Phone call from “your bank”Call from my bank: they said there is fraud on my account and I need to move my savings to a new safe account today.
Red flags
- You're told to move money to keep it safe
- They say it's urgent and to keep it secret, even from bank staff
- The number on your phone looks like your bank's (numbers can be faked)
- They ask for a code that's just been texted to you
What to do
- Hang up. Your bank will never ask you to move money to a safe account.
- Call 159 to reach your real bank safely, ideally from a different phone.
- Never share codes texted to you, or install apps a caller asks for.
- If you've lost money, call your bank straight away, then report it to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.
Questions
What is 159?
159 is a free number that connects you to your own bank's fraud team, so you know you're talking to the real bank.
Will I get my money back?
Since October 2024, UK banks must reimburse most victims of this kind of push-payment fraud. Call your bank straight away.
Worried about your mum or dad?
We're building KinAlert for families: they forward anything odd to one WhatsApp number, and you get a text if it's a scam. Join the waitlist.