Latest scam warnings
Stay one step ahead of fraudsters by keeping updated on the latest scams
For customers wishing to offer their support to those impacted by the situation in Ukraine we would encourage you to donate via registered charities; not all websites and fundraising pages will be genuine.
As always, our advice is to remain vigilant and follow the advice noted in our useful fraud information.
We're helping charities to support those affected by the situation in Ukraine, find out how you can support
At M&S Bank we work hard to help you stay one step ahead of fraudsters and on this page you can keep updated about the latest types of scams.
Fraudsters may tempt you with investment opportunities in cryptocurrencies.
Beware of cold callers and adverts on social media advertising crypto assets, in particular promises of high returns and pressure to invest quickly.
Some scams claim to be investing in cryptocurrency, but they’re not paying a wallet provider. If they are paying a wallet provider, check the following:
Always conduct your own due diligence prior to investing any funds. The FCA website provides details around crypto assets and also has a list of all regulated companies.
You can find out more about cryptocurrency scams from the national cybercrime reporting centre ActionFraud.
Criminals are sending fake text messages and emails claiming to be from a delivery company.
They say they tried to deliver a parcel to you and ask you to click on a link to find out more or rearrange delivery.
Don't click on any links or give any information, especially personal or financial details.
If you think the message may be genuine, open a separate window and visit the company's website using an address that you know is safe. Once there, you can enter your tracking number to see if the message was genuine.
If you think the message isn't genuine, delete it.
Never give any information if you're contacted unexpectedly by email, phone or text. Contact the company separately using a phone number you trust.
Please call us immediately on 0345 900 0900 if you think you've been a victim of this scam.
Throughout the pandemic, fraudsters have been trying to exploit coronavirus as an opportunity for financial crime.
Now that vaccines are available, they’re sending bogus messages claiming to be from the NHS and offering the chance to apply for a Covid-19 vaccine.
These are usually text messages or emails asking you to confirm your personal and financial details through a website given in a link. The same scam is also being used with automated phone calls asking you to press a button on your keypad to provide your details.
Just a reminder that the Covid-19 vaccine is only available through the NHS and is free to all. The NHS will never ask you to confirm whether you want the vaccine or ask for payment for it.
Don’t get caught out, find out more about other coronavirus scams we're hearing about.
Impersonation scams, where criminals pretend to be from organisations we know and trust, are becoming much more common. They often start with a phone call, email or text informing you:
Whatever the reason given for contacting you, if it’s a scam, they’re trying to trick you into giving them money or personal/financial details and they’ll often try to pressure you into taking action immediately.
Criminals sometimes make the call seem more authentic by using ‘number spoofing’. This makes their phone number look like one you know and trust.
Remember, never disclose your security details such as a PIN, online password or temporary 'one time passcodes’, only a fraudster would ask for these.
To help protect yourself from fraud, find out more about impersonation scams by downloading our scams leaflet (PDF, 255KB).
Around Valentine’s Day, fraudsters are known to target victims in what is often known as a ‘romance’ scam. With Covid-19 keeping us mainly at home right now, this scam is becoming more common, and not just at this time of year.
Criminals will set up fake profiles on dating websites, apps and social media in an attempt to build a relationship with you. They’ll put time and effort into gaining your trust before eventually asking for money, perhaps claiming they need it for Covid-19 related medical fees or because they’ve lost their job and are struggling to pay bills, for example.
Never send money to someone you’ve only met online.
If you think you may have been the victim of a scam, report it to us as soon as soon as possible by calling 0345 900 0900. You should also report it to Action Fraud.
Recently, we've seen an increase in authorised push payment (APP) scams, also known as bank transfer scams, which happen when fraudsters trick victims into unknowingly transferring money into an account they control.
Usually, fraudsters gain access to a victim's information via a hacked email account and then contact them pretending to be someone the victim does business with or posing as a trusted organisation – such as the police or HMRC.
For example, some scammers will say they're calling from your bank's fraud team about a security issue and ask you to authorise a payment into a ‘safe account'. Others will pretend to be a contractor they know you've hired after gleaning information from your email - such as an estate agent, solicitor or driveway repair company - and trick you into paying an expected invoice into their account instead.
Always remember, M&S Bank will never ask you to disclose your security details such as a PIN, online password or temporary 'one time passcodes' and would never ask you to move your funds to a 'safe account'.
APP fraud can happen to anyone and so it is critical you ask yourself the right questions before you make any payments:
If you think you've been a victim of APP fraud, please call us immediately on 0345 900 0900 (this number can be checked against the number on the back of your card).
As people are more available at home during lockdown, criminals are exploiting the situation with vishing scams.
'Vishing' involves a fraudster phoning a potential victim and posing as someone from your bank, the police, HMRC or another trusted, legitimate company.
Their objective is to trick you into moving your money or giving up sensitive information such as your online password or ‘one time passcodes' to enable the fraudsters to transfer money to an account under their control or purchase valuable goods online.
Always remember M&S Bank will never ask you to disclose your security details such as your PIN, online password or temporary 'one time passcodes' and would never ask you to move your funds to a "safe account".
Top Tips:
There's been an increase in criminals taking over mobile phone numbers using SIM swap and number porting fraud.
This gives fraudsters control of their victims' calls and texts and allows them to authorise payments set up in online banking, using personal data they've gained through social media.
With SIM swap, they contact the network provider impersonating their victims. They claim their phone has been damaged and ask for a new SIM for their new device.
Number porting is similar - the criminals impersonate their victims to get the PAC code (porting authorisation code), which is needed to switch from one network to another. Sometimes they might also hack into their online mobile phone account. Once they have the code, they move the number to a new network provider. Other techniques include claiming their SIM has been damaged and asking for a replacement, either by phone or in a shop.
Criminals often get personal data for their impersonations from social media.
If calls and texts stop working on your phone, your number could have been stolen - particularly if you're in a place where you normally have good reception. This is because a mobile phone number can only link to one SIM at a time.
If this happens, contact your network provider straight away. If you can't get through, contact your bank to remove the phone number from your account.
Criminals are using the Covid-19 outbreak as an opportunity to try to steal money.
They're posing as organisations such as banks, government, the World Health Organisation or other health service providers, and pretending to offer things like a safe haven for your money or medical guidance. They'll then try to trick you into giving personal or financial information.
These claims are made in fake emails, phone calls, texts and social media using Covid-19 as a cover story. Remember, M&S Bank will never ask you for any PINs or passwords or to move money to a safe account.
Find out more about the latest Covid-19 scams we're hearing about.
If you think you've been targeted by a coronavirus scam, report it to Action Fraud (link opens in a new window).
To get more help protecting yourself against fraud, visit the Take Five (link opens in a new window) website. You can also download our scams leaflet.
The end of the tax year is seen by fraudsters as an opportunity to make 'social engineering' attacks.
These can be:
Watch out for messages pretending to be from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) saying you've received a tax rebate and asking for your account details.
To spot a scam, look for these tell-tale signs:
If you get a suspicious email or text, don't reply or click on a link and don't open any attachments. If you think you're being targeted by a bogus phone call, don't be afraid to hang up.
Our phone lines are very busy but if you're at home, you can still use online and mobile banking. They're an easy way to manage your everyday banking in your own time, from the comfort and safety of your home. This means even if you're self-isolating you can:
By using online and mobile banking, you can help to keep our phone banking services available for the most vulnerable. If you're new to digital banking, rest assured your money and personal data is secure.
If you think you've been the victim of a scam,
report it to us as soon as
possible by calling
0345
900
0900.
You should also report it to Action
Fraud (link opens in a new
window).
You can also visit the Take Five (link opens in a new window) website for more help on protecting yourself against fraud.
We also have our own Financial Fraud leaflet which tells you more about how to stay safe online.