UK scam guide · updated 27 September 2026
Bank impersonation and “safe account” scams
Someone claiming to be your bank's fraud team (or the police) says your account is at risk and talks you into moving your money to a “safe account” they control. It often starts with a text about a payment you didn't make, then a call from a number that looks like the bank's.
What it looks like
- A text: “Did you make a payment of £749.99? If not, call us”
- A caller who knows your name or some account details and says your money is at risk
- Being asked to move money to a “safe”, “secure” or “holding” account
- Requests to read out a one-time passcode, or to install AnyDesk or TeamViewer
- Being told not to tell bank staff what the money is for
- Caller ID showing the bank's real number (it can be spoofed)
What the real organisations say
“No legitimate organisation would ever tell you that your money is at risk and you need to move it to another account to keep it safe.”
“We will never text or call you and ask you to share your information or transfer money.”
“Unlike many long-form numbers, 159 cannot be spoofed or impersonated.”
“A common tactic used by criminals to defraud victims is to imitate – or 'spoof' – the phone numbers of legitimate organisations, like banks and Government departments.”
Criminals stole £1.28 billion through payment fraud in the UK in 2025, up 4%. Authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where victims are tricked into sending the money themselves, rose 19% to £576.4 million. Source
Impersonation of police or bank staff cost victims £55.5 million across 6,016 cases in 2025, down 18%: the lowest total UK Finance has reported. Source
What our visitors report
From scam reports, community threads and caller verdicts left on this site that match this scam. These are user reports, not verified findings.
- Reports on this site
- 40
- Last 90 days
- 27+108% vs previous 90
- Latest report
- 9 Oct 2026
Reports per month
- 4May
- 3Jun
- 8Jul
- 13Aug
- 6Sept
- 4Oct
Latest reported examples
CallCaller verdict· 9 Oct 2026· 07950 859693
Bank fraud team
CallCommunity report· 7 Oct 2026· 07887 725086
Barclays impersonating call
07887725086 called - automated voice call saying it was from Barclays regarding fraudulent transaction on my Amazon account...obviously no such transaction on my Amazon account
Read the full reportCallCaller verdict· 7 Oct 2026· 07887 725086
Automated call saying it is from Barclays regarding a fraudulent transaction on Amazon account
CallCaller verdict· 2 Oct 2026· 07490 865971
Claimed there were 2 payments from my bank today, one for £119 on Amazon and to press 2 to confirm it was me.
CallCaller verdict· 29 Sept 2026· 07492 900144
Claimed to be from Fraud Department ??? Claiming a transaction going thru. Wanting me to press 1 or 2 . Just hung up on them.
CallCommunity report· 28 Sept 2026· 07448 937666
Scam PHONE CALL
Pre recorded message about bank fraud
Read the full report
Numbers reported for this scam
What to do
- 1
Hang up and call 159
159 connects you directly to your own bank (more than 99% of UK current accounts) and can't be spoofed. Use a different phone if you can.
Stop Scams UK: 159 ↗ - 2
Never move money because a caller asks
Whoever they say they are, and whatever number they call from.
- 3
Already paid?
Tell your bank at once: APP fraud victims can be reimbursed, and speed matters. Then report to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), or Police Scotland on 101.
Report Fraud (replaced Action Fraud on 4 Dec 2025) ↗ - 4
Report the number
Share it in a text to 7726, and add a report below so the next person who checks it sees it.
Had one? Report it
Your report helps the next person who checks the same message, link or number. It’s published as a visitor report after our daily moderation.
Bank and “safe account” scams: FAQs
Will my bank ever ask me to move money to a safe account?
No. As Nationwide puts it, no legitimate organisation would ever tell you your money is at risk and you need to move it to another account to keep it safe. Anyone who does is a criminal.
The call came from my bank's real number. Is it genuine?
Not necessarily. Ofcom warns that criminals spoof the numbers of banks and government departments. Hang up and call 159, or the number on the back of your card, from another phone.
What is 159?
A short number run by Stop Scams UK that connects you directly to your own bank. It covers more than 99% of UK retail bank current accounts and can't be spoofed. Most major banks take part, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Nationwide, NatWest, Santander, Monzo and Starling.
How much is lost to bank impersonation scams?
UK Finance reports that impersonation of police or bank staff cost £55.5 million across 6,016 cases in 2025, down 18% on 2024. Across all fraud, £1.28 billion was stolen in 2025.
Will I get my money back?
Tell your bank immediately. Most victims of authorised push payment fraud can now be reimbursed by their bank, but it must know quickly. Report it to Report Fraud as well.
How many Bank and “safe account” scams have been reported on WhoCalledLookup?
40 visitor reports on this site match this scam, 27 of them in the last 90 days; the latest was on 9 October 2026. They are user reports, not verified findings.