How fraudsters trick you into willingly sending your money to them

Fraudsters use clever tactics to convince you to send them your money willingly. This type of fraud is known as APP (Authorised Push Payment) fraud.

Sadly, many victims of fraud don’t realise they’ve been scammed until it’s too late. Read on to learn more about how fraudsters scam you into sending your money to them and how to protect yourself from falling victim to their tactics.

How fraudsters convince you to send money

Fraudsters know how people think, and what tactics to use to make them and their scams seem authentic. They may contact you by text, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, email or phone call. And pretend to be:

A friend or family member of yours

• A romantic interest of yours
• A bank or the Police
• A celebrity
• An investment broker.

If they’re impersonating a friend, family or romantic interest, they may be less likely to speak to you on the phone and more likely to send a message using a well-known app or service, as it’s easier to impersonate someone this way.

Whoever they impersonate, they’ll always eventually put pressure on you to send them money. They’ll say that either you or they are in a difficult situation.

Key tips to protect yourself

It can be hard to know when something’s not right when we speak to people on the phone or online. Remember these tips in order to help you spot a scam and stop fraudsters using you to get to your money.

Be vigilant of unexpected or unusual contact

• Always verify the person you’re speaking to is really who they say they are if you’re contacted unexpectedly, or if something doesn’t feel right.
• Don’t rely on the caller ID display on your phone – fraudsters can manipulate this so any number or name they like will appear on screen.
• Don’t let yourself be rushed into making a payment or sending money to someone – it’s helpful to stop and think first, and ask someone else what they think. You can try searching online for whether it could be a scam too if you’re ever unsure.
• Always do thorough research about any investment opportunities before transferring money to anyone.

Take care of your information

Be very careful with your banking and security information. Never share with anyone:

• Your full bank account or security information in full
• Your debit or credit card PIN with anyone
• Your One Time Passcodes that we send to you in a text or an email.

Find out more about common fraud threats and how to avoid them.

Take Five is a national campaign that offers straightforward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from fraud. Visit: takefive-stopfraud.org.uk for more information.