If you receive an unexpected call and you’re not sure it’s from us, end the call. Then call us back from a different phone, or call a friend to make sure the scammers aren’t still on the line.
Here you can find out the latest scams and what you need to watch out for. You can also find out how to protect yourself against common scams .
Social engineering is when scammers trick you into giving them confidential or personal information, then use it to help them scam you.
They’ll pretend to be from your bank, the police, or other trustworthy organisations and ask for private information, such as your date of birth, bank account details and one-time passcodes.
They use this information to get access to your accounts or trick you into falling for a bigger scam.
Criminals sneak harmful software onto your mobile device and then use it to steal from you. They hide the software in apps and updates, so you install it without realising. Once it's on your device, the software can steal your personal details, online passwords and app log-in details.
Scammers pose as your bank, the police or other trustworthy organisations to convince you to send your money to them.
They’ll often tell you that your money is at risk and you need to act urgently, moving your money to a ‘safe account’. Remember – we’ll never call and ask you to move your money to a ‘safe account’.
Scammers trick you into sharing a one-time passcode over the phone or entering it on a fake website. You might think you’re authorising a genuine payment, registering to receive money or confirming your identity. Instead, the scammer uses the passcode to authorise a fraudulent card payment, access your bank account, or add your card to their digital wallet.
Criminals might trick you into setting up call forwarding on your phone so they can intercept calls and security checks from your bank.
They might pretend to be from your bank, a telecom provider or a trusted company and ask you to type a code into your phone. Once call forwarding is activated, they could use it to access your accounts or personal information.
Criminals trick you into accepting fake job offers so they can steal your personal details, your money or even get you to move money for them illegally.
They’ll you directly by text message, social media or phone, using real company names and logos to make the offer or advert seem genuine. These scams often lure you in with promises of easy money or roles that sound too good to be true – but their real aim is to steal your information or involve you in fraud.
Criminals trick you into sending intimate photos or videos, then threaten to make them public unless you pay.
They use a false identity to start chatting to you online, then suggest exchanging intimate photos. They might send photos first to gain your trust, but these will be fakes. Then, once you’ve sent yours, they start demanding money.
It can feel very stressful if this happens, but there are steps you can take to regain control, and lots of organisations that can support you.
Scammers pose as your bank, the police or other trustworthy organisations to convince you to move your money to them. One tactic they use is to say your money is at risk and you need to move it to a ‘safe account’ or take cash out and give it to them for safe keeping. They’ll try to rush you into acting straight away, saying any delay will put your money at risk.
They may even say that you can help them investigate by going into a branch to take out cash. They will have a ‘police officer’ meet you to take the money as part of the investigation.
Scammers will use information they already have you to help them sound believable and gain your trust. They might buy this information from companies selling data, or send you a fake email or text message to trick you into sharing your details. One way they do this is by making you think you need to fill in a form or pay a small fee to rearrange a delivery.
How to help protect yourself:
Scammers trick you into unknowingly setting up a call forwarding service, so whenever someone calls you, it goes through to them instead.
First, they’ll call, often pretending to be from your bank, and say your account is ‘under threat’.
They’ll then ask you to enter a series of numbers into your phone (usually * 21 * followed by a long number), so that you can continue to receive notifications the false threat.
Often these criminals will have already gathered your personal information from a different scam, so they’ll have access to your accounts.
Once call forwarding is set up, they’ll make fake payments from your account to theirs, and when our fraud team calls to check the transactions are genuine, they’ll answer and confirm pretending to be you.
How to help protect yourself:
Criminals will message you claiming to be from the government and ask you to update your details or complete an application to receive your Winter Fuel Payment. They'll direct you to a fake government or energy website that looks just like the real thing. The website will ask for your personal information and card details, which the criminals will use to make fraudulent payments.
If you're eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, the government won't text or email you. Most people that are eligible will get their payment automatically and receive a letter to confirm the amount. You can use the real government website to check if you are eligible .
How to help protect yourself:
Scammers use fake phone calls and websites to trick you into giving your card details. You might think you’re making a genuine card payment, registering to receive benefits or a refund, or confirming your identity with a company you trust.
As soon as you give your card details, the scammer uses your card for something else, and you’re sent a one-time passcode. They might be making a fraudulent card payment, adding your card to their digital wallet or trying to access your banking app.
You think you’re in the middle of a genuine transaction, so you enter the code on the website or give it over the phone, and the scammer uses it to authorise the fraud.
How to protect yourself:
Mobile malware is harmful software that can spy on and control your mobile device. It can steal your information, change your device settings and access your apps – including your banking apps.
Criminals often sneak malware onto your device using apps they’ve made. They make one that seems useful, like a PDF reader or file manager, and add it to a genuine app store. When you install it, it works as normal. Weeks or months later, the app says it needs an update. The update contains malware that installs itself without you realising.
Harmful apps often request access to your device's accessibility services. This gives them full access to your phone. With this level of access, they can even set your phone to open malware when you select your banking app, so you get a fake log in screen that will steal your log in information.
How to protect yourself:
Scammers trick you into applying for fake jobs so they can take out loans in your name.
They'll post fake job adverts online and wait for you to apply. When you do, they'll say you've got the job and ask for your personal information, pretending it's for identity checks or to get you set up.
With the information you’ve given them, they’ll start a loan application in your name. Then, they’ll send you a link and trick you into finishing the application for them by saying they use Barclays as an ‘identity verification provider’.
Sometimes they’ll even meet you in person and ask for your personal information and photo ID to set you up for the role, but they’ll be secretly filling in a loan application.
How to help protect yourself:
Scammers use the cost-of-living crisis to help them scam you by making you think you can save money. They might try to direct you to websites with fake offers or pretend to represent energy companies or retailers offering discounts.
They can also set up fake loan websites with low interest rates to lure you in. Once you’ve applied for the loan, they'll say you need to pay an admin fee before they can release the money. You pay the 'fee', but you never get the loan.
In England, Scotland and Wales, scammers sometimes pretend to offer ‘government support’. If you get an email, text message or phone call saying you need to register for government support, or that government support for energy bills is continuing, this is a scam.
Remember if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
How to help protect yourself:
Criminals are convincing people to download screen-sharing applications to scam them.
They’ll sometimes pose as your bank or an investment company and offer to help you set up a new payee or account. They might even pretend to be your internet provider or other utility company and offer to fix a fake issue.
They’ll get you to download a screen-sharing application so they can ‘help’ you. This lets them see and control your computer, even after they’ve told you they’ve finished the task.
Be wary of anyone asking you to do this – they could be a criminal. If you feel like someone is trying to scare you into giving them information or moving your money, stop communication with them and your bank on a number you trust.
How to help protect yourself:
Not everyone is who they say they are, and scammers can pretend to be someone else online. Always do your background research on the person you’re speaking to, and don’t transfer money to someone you haven’t met in person – especially if they say they’re overseas and need the money for some kind of emergency. If you’re unsure someone, get an opinion from someone else you trust.
Scammers send messages where they impersonate your family members or friends. They’ll give a reason why they’re using a different number, like saying they’ve lost their phone, then mention a reason they need money, such as an unpaid bill or a lost wallet. Never send a photo of the front and back of your card – this will allow someone to make purchases using your card or even access your online banking.
If you get a message from friends or family asking for money, give them a call on a number you trust and speak to them before you make any payments.
If you believe you’ve been contacted on WhatsApp by someone using a fraudulent number, please help WhatsApp close down these numbers by reporting it directly to them. You do this by tapping the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen in the chat, choose ‘More’ and then ‘Report’. Once you’ve done that, you can repeat those steps to block the number from contacting you again.
Everyone’s talking cryptocurrency at the moment, but it doesn’t mean you should listen to anyone offering to invest your money in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, especially if they’re offering to open a wallet for you that you wouldn’t have access to.
Scammers are posing as sales staff to get you to buy into a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’. If you are looking to invest, it’s best to get the opinion of a qualified adviser and check the FCA website – don’t give out any details over the phone.
Scammers are sending texts that appear to be from ‘Barclays’. If you receive a text with a one-time passcode you didn’t ask for, or a payment you don’t recognise, it’s probably a scam.
Scammers impersonate us to get you to trust them. Then they try to convince you to hand over your details so they can access your account, or transfer your funds to a ‘safe account’.
Always double check the company’s name, as scammers often get it wrong – for example, they might say ‘Curry’s’ instead of ‘Currys’ or ‘AIRBNB’ instead of ‘Airbnb’.
Don’t call any numbers, select any links or open attachments in messages you don’t recognise or aren’t expecting. We’ll never ask you to transfer your money to a ‘safe account’ – no legitimate company will.
Fraudsters often use global events or tragedies as an opportunity to prey on your compassion and willingness to help others in need. They might use conflicts or natural disasters as a cover story to get you to divulge personal details, move money out of your account, or ask for donations to fake relief efforts. Be careful and check that you’re donating to an accredited, legitimate charity.
Scammers will approach you on social media, messaging apps or by phone a job opportunity. They might say they’re from a well-known company and have an online profile that looks genuine. The job will often sound too good to be true, promising a high salary for very little work. For example, they might offer you £500 a day just to review products or like social media posts.
Once you apply, they’ll often ask you to send money for security checks, training or uniform. They can also use the information you give them to steal your money or identity.
Sometimes you’ll work for them for a while, and they’ll pay you as promised. Once they’ve gained your trust, they’ll ask you to start moving money for them. They’ll give a reason that sounds genuine, but really, you’re helping them hide money they got illegally, which is a crime.
How to help protect yourself:
Sextortion is a type of blackmail and is illegal. It usually starts with someone approaching you online – on social media, a dating app or even through a game. They might seem friendly and fun, but really it’s a criminal pretending to be someone else.
After chatting for a while, they’ll suggest exchanging intimate photos. They’ll often send you photos first to gain your trust – but these will be fakes. Once you’ve sent photos of yourself, they start demanding money and threaten to post them online unless you pay.
What to do if this happens to you:
If you’ve already sent money , or you need help understanding your options or what steps you should take, consider contacting a support service such as Victim Support or the Internet Watch Foundation . If you’d like to talk to us any payments you’ve made, please call us on 0345 050 4585. We won’t be able to get your money back, but we can help you understand how to protect your account in future and explain the support options available. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you’re under 18, there are additional steps you can take:
If images of you are shared online without your consent:
Take Five to protect yourself
We’re teaming up with UK Finance, who’ve launched their ‘Take Five to Stop Fraud’ campaign to help keep you safe from fraud and scams. Following these steps can help protect you and your money.
Take a moment to stop and think before giving out your personal or payment details.
Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests you think seem suspicious – only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by scammers, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk. If you’re in Scotland, please report it to Police Scotland directly by calling 101.
Get more tips at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.
What to do with a suspicious message
If you get an email or text that claims to be from us but looks suspicious, please forward it, along with any attachments if possible, to internetsecurity@barclays.com .
You can also forward any suspicious emails to [email protected] . The National Cyber Security Centre will test the validity of the site and will remove it immediately if it’s a phishing scam.
Visit our fraud and scams page for tips on how to spot scams and protect your money.
Check out our article on fraud and scams that explains how anyone could be vulnerable to scammers.