Keeping your money safe

• Never disclose your PIN, passwords, security codes or one time passcodes to anyone, a legitimate bank or lender will never ask for these details
• Never move your money to a “safe account” its not something banks, lenders or law enforcement will ask you to do
• Stop and think, does that sound too good to be true, always take some time to think about the risks of fraud
• If someone calls you and claims to be from the bank, challenge it, just because they tell you they are doesn’t mean they are, caller IDs, emails and texts can easily be faked, if in doubt hang up and call them back using the number on a recent statement

Watch out for phishing scams, our checklist below can help you avoid falling foul…

• Check before you click: Look out for any emails, phone calls, or SMS messages you think are suspicious, especially when payments are involved
• Avoid oversharing on social media: You shouldn’t post messages on social media about any purchases you are on the verge of making, as this could alert fraudsters who track social media activity
• Stay alert: As part of the application, always check if the case handler has sent any payment requests before transferring funds
• Report it: Report any suspicious communications as phishing and do not participate in activities involving sharing personal details or payments
• Protect yourself: Make sure you’re using antivirus-protected software, secured browsers, and up-to-date device. Avoid accessing confidential information on public networks or devices
• Test it: Think about sending a test transfer of £1 to the bank account before transferring the full payment to check if the bank details are correct

If you’d like to find out more about how to keep your money safe, UK Finance’s take 5 campaign has loads of great information, tips and tricks and is an initiative we fully support: Take Five – To Stop Fraud