Common banking scams
Most fraud today doesn't involve hacking. It involves persuading you. Criminals pose as people you trust, create panic or excitement, and get you to send money or hand over codes yourself.
The warning signs are almost always the same
- Unexpected contact by phone, text, email, social media or dating app
- Urgency or fear: "your account is under attack", "act now or lose out"
- A request to move money, share a code, or install an app
- Secrecy: "don't tell the bank staff", "don't tell your family"
- Too good to be true: guaranteed returns, huge discounts, easy money
The UK banking industry's Take Five to Stop Fraud advice sums it up well: Stop and take a moment to think. Challenge: could it be fake? It's OK to refuse or ignore requests. Protect: contact your bank immediately if you think you've fallen for a scam.
Scams to know about
- Bank, police and HMRC impersonationCallers pretending to protect you, and the "safe account" trick.
- Phishing emails, texts and callsFake messages from delivery firms, banks, HMRC and streaming services.
- Investment, romance and purchase scamsFake crypto, fake partners, fake sellers. Long cons and quick grabs.
- Malware and remote access"Tech support" calls, fake apps and software that spies on your banking.
- Money mules"Easy money" offers to use your account. It's money laundering.
Other scams to watch for
- "Hi Mum" messages: a text or WhatsApp from an unknown number claiming to be your child with a new phone who urgently needs money. Call them on their old number.
- Invoice and "change of bank details" scams: emails from builders, solicitors or suppliers saying their account has changed. Always confirm by phone. See paying an invoice safely and protecting your house deposit.
- Job and task scams: paid to "review products" or "like videos", then asked to pay in to unlock earnings. See our job scams guide.
- Fake fees, fines and refunds: parcel fees, parking fines, tax refunds and energy rebates that ask for card details. See fake "you owe us" messages.
- Ticket and holiday scams: sold-out tickets and bargain villas that don't exist. See our ticket and holiday guide.
- Scams aimed at sellers: fake payment screenshots and overpayments on Marketplace and Vinted. See selling online safely.
- QR code scams: fake QR stickers on parking meters and posters that lead to payment-stealing sites. See our QR code guide.
- AI voice and video scams: cloned voices of family members or deepfake celebrity adverts. See our AI scams guide.
Want to see real examples? Our archive has phishing emails sorted by bank and money mule recruitment emails, with the giveaways explained.
Want the whole picture in one place? Read Every type of scam, explained on one page: what each one looks like, the biggest giveaway, and what to do.
Not sure who to turn to? See Where to get help, our list of trusted organisations grouped by problem.
Last reviewed: October 2026