Banking Scam Calls — "Your Account Has Been Compromised"

Banking scams — sometimes called "safe account" or "fraud team" scams — are one of the most lucrative phone frauds operating in the UK. The scammer impersonates your bank's fraud team, manufactures urgency, and pressures you into authorising payments to an account they control.

Warning signs

• Caller knows your name, sort code or last few card digits — these are easily harvested.
• You are urged to move money to a "safe account" or "holding account".
• You are told not to discuss the call with branch staff because they "could be in on it".

Real-world scripts

• ""We've blocked a £900 transfer — we need to secure your account by moving funds now.""
• ""Confirm the one-time code we just sent you so we can stop the payment.""

If you receive this call

• Hang up. Your bank will never ask you to move money or share a one-time code over the phone.
• Call your bank back on the number from the back of your card.
• If you authorised a payment, report it to your bank within 24 hours.
• Report the caller on GhostCallers and at Action Fraud.

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