Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment. Stop and think. It could protect you and your money.
- STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
- CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
- PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
It is good practice to ensure that you do not hold too much cash in your current accounts. Keep the bulk of your money in savings or deposit accounts. This means that if a criminal gains access to your current account or convince you to make a payment, they will only be able to access a limited amount of your money.
If you are struggling to manage your financial affairs or feel particularly concerned about scams, consider contacting your bank. Explain how and why you feel concerned about scams and ask them for help in providing additional security measures to protect your account better. The bank will then offer a range of measures to support you and protect you from scams.
If you notify the bank, the bank has a duty of care to ensure you are protected.
Resources
- Age UK has produced an excellent 40-page guide called ‘Avoiding scams’ – print off the relevant pages you wish to highlight.
- Action Fraud has a range of printable fact sheets, leaflets and posters on different types of scams.
- Now on its fourth edition, the Little Book of Big Scams is a 46-page booklet highlighting the most common frauds and how to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.
- Consumers’ group Which? Has produced a guide to help people spot whether something is a scam.