One in five of us have handed scammers personal information: how to make sure you’re not one of them

New research from Nationwide shows 15% of people have shared personal information with a scammer before realising they weren’t genuine.

The research, carried out by Censuswide among 2,000 UK adults, also found:

• people receive suspicious phone calls more than three times a week on average
• people receive suspicious text messages twice a week on average
• 26% received a text message claiming to be from their bank in the past 12 months
• 25% received an email claiming to be from their bank in the past 12 months
• 22% received a phone call claiming to be from their bank in the past 12 months
• 19% would be likely to call back an unknown number
• 20% would trust an unexpected caller if their bank’s name appeared on their phone
• 19% would trust an unexpected caller if they knew some recent account activity

Scams often come with red flags

Scammers are very good at pretending to be organisations and brands you know and trust. But there are often clues that something isn’t quite right.

Nationwide highlights five common red flags you should know:

• Your bank will never ask you to move your money. There is no such thing as a ‘safe account’.
• Your bank will never tell you what to say or ask you to misrepresent a payment, even if they claim it will make things quicker or easier.
• Your bank will never ask you to share a one-time passcode.
• Your bank will never ask you to download an app or give someone access to your computer or banking app.
• Your bank will never pressure you to act immediately.

If someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks you to do any of these things, stop and take a moment to check that they really are who they claim to be.

How to protect yourself from scammers

Scammers rely on making you believe they’re genuine. They may use familiar brands, convincing websites and urgent messages to catch you off guard.

Here are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself.

Be wary of social media ads

Scammers often use platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to target people with tempting offers or posts that lead to fake websites.

If an offer looks too good to be true, take a step back and check it carefully before handing over any information or money.

Check the web address

Fake websites can look almost identical to the real thing. Look carefully at the web address for unusual domains, extra words or small spelling mistakes.

Check the website carefully

There may be other clues that a website isn’t genuine, including:

• poor spelling, punctuation or grammar
• low-quality images
• awkward layouts or unusual formatting

Be careful with bank transfers

Where possible, use secure payment methods such as a credit or debit card or a trusted digital wallet. These can offer additional protection if something goes wrong.

Don’t click links in unexpected messages

Fraudsters may use links to take you to fake websites or install malicious software on your device.

If you need to make a payment or log in to an account, go directly to the organisation’s official website or app instead.

Don’t let yourself be rushed

Scammers want you to make a quick decision before you have time to think.

If someone is putting you under pressure to send money, share information or act immediately, stop. Take your time and check that the request is genuine.

Remember: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Be suspicious of unexpected contact

If someone calls, texts or emails you out of the blue asking for money, personal information or urgent action, pause and verify.

Don’t use the contact details they give you. Instead, find the organisation’s details independently through its official website or app and contact it directly.

What should you do if you’ve been scammed?

If you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam, act as quickly as you can:

• contact your bank or card provider immediately and explain what has happened
• change any passwords that may have been compromised
• monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
• run a security scan on your device and make sure your software is up to date

The sooner you act, the better your chances of limiting financial loss and protecting your personal information.

How to report a scam

If you spot a scam or believe you’ve been defrauded, report it to Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you get a scam email, forward them to [email protected], and if you received a dodgy text, forward it to 7726.