Always love a chat with Edd Smith on BBC Radio Norfolk and today we were talking about scams with advice on how to avoid rip off scammers who are out to drain your bank balance.
If you missed today’s show – here’s a recap of some of the tips I mentioned –
Hang up and call ‘159’
First thing to say is that if you get a suspicious call from anyone who claims to be from your bank, ask for their name, department and number and hang up sharpish!
Then call ‘159’, it’s a safe and scam proof way to contact your genuine bank, (or you can use the number on your bank statement), so you can report, and check out the call. Think of it like calling 101 for the Police or 111 for the NHS, and it’s set up by Stop Scams UK
Don’t part with passwords and PINs
Never ever give out your password or PIN number. Sounds obvious, but if you’re caught off guard and on the receiving end of a scam call from someone who tells you your bank account’s been hacked or you’re a victim of fraud, it’s easy to panic.
Don’t share bank details
There’s all sorts of ways scammers can get their hands on our bank details. If you shop or bank online, protect yourself by making sure you keep any security software updated and use unsecured websites, especially when payment is involved!
And don’t broadcast your personal and financial details on trains, buses or public places! As I mentioned, I was on a train a while back and heard someone loudly giving out a stack of personal details during a phone call. Call your bank privately!
Watch out for ‘courier fraud’
There are so many financial scams out there, but one that’s back with a vengeance right now is ‘Courier Fraud’.
This usually starts with a call from someone claiming to be from your bank, or even the Police, with the news that there’s a problem with your bank or account.
With clever tactics, they’ll try to extract personal details from you and ask to send a courier to your door to collect your bank card. They may claim they can then set up new safe accounts for you. Whatever you do, DON’T hand over your bank card as scammers will just drain your account!
I’ve been scammed – can I get my money back?
If you have been scammed, you may be able to get your money back.
New rules introduced from October 2024, mean banks should refund losses from ‘push payment fraud’, which is when you’re duped into transferring money to scammers online.
Providing your claim is genuine, banks should refund your money within five working days, up to a limit of £85,000, although they can impose a £100 excess as part of the process.