
What to do if you suspect fraud
If you suspect there has any type of fraud on your account, it’s important you speak to us immediately. View the contact details of your local office
Fraudsters manipulate victims into providing confidential information or other actions that compromise their security. Phishing involves emails which seem legitimate, but direct you to bogus websites that capture your personal information. Vishing and smishing are similar techniques where contact is made, respectively, by phone or text.
Fraudsters can pretend to be someone you legitimately owe money to, such as a school, solicitor, holiday company or builder/decorator. They send an invoice or bill either requesting payment or asking you to change the details of the account you pay into.
Cyber fraud involves malicious software, known as malware, that can infiltrate your computer system, smartphone or tablet, to access your logins and personal information. It might be sent in a link or hidden in software that seems genuine, or infiltrate your systems without you even knowing. Using public Wi-Fi can make it easier for fraudsters to gain access to your devices or access your information, because the network is less secure.
Card fraud can happen when debit or credit cards are lost or stolen, or copied when using payment devices or ATMs that have been tampered with. It may also happen when fraudsters have access to your information and open or access bank accounts in your name. Cheque fraud happens when someone steals or copies a cheque, often to buy high-value goods.
Fraudsters can pose as sales people, offering cheap investments such as shares, gold, carbon credits or vineyards. They often use hard-selling tactics to persuade you, suggesting the offer is time-limited. Scammers may praise your understanding of risk and say you’ve been selected for an ‘exclusive’ chance. The high-pressure nature of this tactic is why they’re often referred to as ‘boiler room’ scams.
The shares they’re pushing may be extremely hard to sell without losing money, or may be a small unquoted company that, the fraudster claims, is planning to list. In some cases, the company may not exist or the share certificates are fake.
If you suspect there has any type of fraud on your account, it’s important you speak to us immediately. View the contact details of your local office