Latest Fraud Alerts

The fake sites may trick you into providing information by trying to log in to your online banking account. Or they may show you a pop-up message asking you to change your security details, telephone number and email address.

Fraudsters can then use this information to try to make payments on your online banking. They may ask you to share your one-time passcode or secure key codes, allowing them to steal your money.

Remember:

• Avoid using a search engine to visit our website – always enter it by typing www.co-operativebank.co.uk in the URL address bar, or www.smile.co.uk if you’re a smile customer
• Never click any links in emails asking you to log in to our online banking services – we’ll never ask you to log in to online banking via an email or text message
• Don't give away your login details or one time passcodes to anyone – we’ll never call you and ask you for your one time passcodes
• Be wary of pop up messages asking you to provide information – we’ll never present you with these to ask for your security information, telephone number or email address
• Be vigilant – if you’re unsure if a text message or website is genuine just stop, don’t panic and use the number on the back of your card to contact us.

Below is an example of a scam text you may receive:

Royal Mail: Your parcel is waiting for Redelivery. Please confirm the settlement(GBP) on the link below:

https://Royal.mail-deliverfee.com

Regardless of how professional or convincing a caller sounds, remember, the bank, police, Royal Mail or other trusted organisations will never:

• ask for your financial information or your security details in full
• ask you for your PIN code, verification codes or token codes
• ask you to move your money to a new or 'safe' account.

If you are given any of these instructions, it is an attempt of fraud.

If you believe you are a victim of fraud please contact us immediately.

Important customer reminder – Scam phone calls

Fraudsters are continuing to target customers through telephone calls claiming to be from your bank, the police, or companies such as Sky, Microsoft or Talk Talk. These fraudulent callers try to obtain personal details and/or account security information.

Regardless of how professional or convincing a caller sounds, remember, the bank, police or other trusted organisations will never:

• ask for your financial information or your security details in full.
• ask you for your PIN code, verification codes or token codes
• ask you to move your money to a new or 'safe' account
• send you an email, text or social media message containing a link to a login page.

Please read our advice on how to use Third Party Provider (TPP) services safely.

If you are given any of these instructions, it is a fraudulent approach. If you believe you are a victim of fraud please contact us immediately.

The FCA warns of online scams in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin

Consumers are being urged to be vigilant towards investment scams that may be advertised on social media, including sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The fraudulent adverts are offering investment into cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, as well as binary options, contracts for difference (CFD), and forex.

The adverts link to websites and profiles which appear to look professional, but are in fact fraudulent brokers and firms who manipulate and distort prices and are not authorised by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

If you deal with an unauthorised firm you also won't have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong.

To reduce the chance of falling victim to investment fraud:

Never respond to unsolicited investment offers whether made online, on social media or over the phone.

Before investing, check the FCA Register to see if the firm or individual you are dealing with is authorised. You can also check the FCA Warning List which details firms to avoid.

We recommend you seek impartial advice before investing.

For additional information on how to choose a financial adviser, please visit:

MoneyHelper

FCA - Finding an adviser

You could avoid investment and pension scams by being ScamSmart. Further advice and guidance from the FCA can be found on their ScamSmart pages.

Fraudsters lure consumers into 'investing' in Binary Option scams

Fraudsters are setting up fake profiles on social media sites and attempting to lure you by offering the chance to 'invest' your money for a 'cut of the profits'. Posing as successful Binary Option Brokers or Forex Traders, they post photos that show them in exclusive locations, with flash cars and wearing high-end watches. Typically, they ask you to send £100-£200 and claim they can make it into £1,000 or £2,000, but in reality they just take your money and never trade it.

Binary Options are called 'Binary' because there can be only two outcomes – win or lose. You bet on whether the price of a commodity such as gold, oil or stocks etc. will rise or fall below a certain amount. If you opt correctly, you will supposedly win the bet. If not, you lose your money. You aren't buying or selling the commodity, just predicting if the price of it will rise or fall.

Victims scammed are left unable to cash out their winnings and any funds deposited.

Protect yourself:

• if you're considering any type of investment, always remember: if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is
• be suspicious of any approach whether by telephone, email or networking sites, as no reputable brokers would do this
• do not give out personal or financial details and never agree to anything or send money upfront, without making your own enquires into the company or individual first
• further advice on Binary Options scams can be found on the Action Fraud website.

If you believe you are a victim of fraud please contact us immediately. If you think you may have been a victim of the above scam please also report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by their using the online reporting tool.

Invoice fraud and 'bogus' boss scams

Please be vigilant, invoice fraud and 'bogus' boss scams are typically aimed towards business customers.

Invoice re-direction fraud occurs when fraudsters trick you into changing the bank account details set up for a regular or expected payment. Typically the fraudster poses as a supplier or a solicitor and sends the bogus request by letter, email or telephone.

A variation of this is the 'bogus boss' scam, also known as CEO fraud. This happens when fraudsters pose as a senior member of a company e.g. the Chief Executive or Managing Director and send an email instructing of an urgent and confidential payment to be made to the bank account details included within the message. The member of staff, believing that they are acting on the instruction of their boss, completes the transaction, which goes direct to the account that the fraudster has access to.

Help protect yourself from these scams by:

• staying alert to any requests to change the bank account details of a payment, such as to a supplier or a solicitor
• always checking that a request to change account details or make an urgent payment is genuine – even if the request appears to have come from someone you know. Ideally by meeting with the person face to face, or by telephone using an established contact number, BEFORE you amend the details or make the payment. Always avoid replying to the email or using the contact details quoted in the instruction
• reconciling accounts daily to help quickly identify potential fraudulent transactions
• adopting dual control procedures for authorising payments and regularly conducting audits on your accounts.

If you are in doubt Take Five. If you think you may have fallen victim to fraud or notice any unusual activity on your account please contact us immediately.