Protect your personal data

A tempting offer or deal pops up on your screen when you’re scrolling through your social media feed - but the too-good-to-be-true ad is exactly that and leaves you out of pocket

How it could happen to you

• You see eye-catching 'discount' adverts for items in your social media feed based on your recent internet searches or online activity. They can often feature the familiar face of a celebrity or TV star endorsing a product or service.
• Similarly, a post on your social media account promises huge or 'guaranteed' investment returns. Only if you act quickly will you be able to take advantage, it says.
• You click on the post and are then taken to a separate website touting the offer/opportunity.
• It asks for your financial details and suggests payment by bank transfer. The goods never arrive or service never materialises.

Stop, think and act

Protect yourself from being scammed with a healthy dose of scepticism whenever you see pop-ups in your social media feeds.

For example, if your search for a new designer handbag triggers ads which tout incredible offers, ask yourself how real could these discounts be? If they're too big to believe, they're probably fake.

If an ad takes you to a website, examine its web address very carefully and compare it with that of the official brand - if it doesn't match or seems an unlikely fit, steer clear.

When a TV presenter’s photo appears to suggest they recommend a high-risk investment or particular product, always double-check their official social media or website. Look online to see if others have expressed similar concerns - spelling errors and image quality are warning signs and ask yourself if the image looks as if it's been digitally altered.

And if tempted by promises of easy profits, be suspicious - do your own research and double-check the firm behind them is legitimate by using the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Financial Services Register.

Fraudsters are always fine-tuning the ‘phishing’ trick – an email which pretends to be from an authoritative source e.g. a bank, the taxman, a regulator or official company but is in fact a fake. As well as better spelling and grammar, they’ve improved the way it looks with logos that seem authentic and official phone numbers.
However, the ruse is the same - click on the link contained in the email and you’ll be taken to a fake website where you run the risk of giving away your financial details. Alternatively, you expose your computer to rogue software that helps the conmen steal your name, address and bank details and other personal information.

How it could happen to you

• You receive what looks like a genuine email from a reputable organisation – your bank, a well-known firm, government body or regulator, say. 
• It asks you to click a link for further details where you’re then tricked into sharing personal information, bank account details and even passwords. 
• Alternatively, you may be prompted to download a form or file. This so-called ‘malicious software’ (malware) then gives fraudsters access to your details and money.

Stop, think and act

If you receive an unexpected email or one that you have no idea where it’s from, don’t open it - delete it. Never click on a link or open any attachment in it.
Forward any suspicious email that claims to be from Barclays to internetsecurity@barclays.co.uk then delete it straight away. Always make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software are up to date, and your firewall is strong.

Fraudsters call you on the telephone and trick you into divulging personal information or handing over your bank cards or cash, often to a courier or impersonator. This so-called ‘vishing’ fraud comes from combining ‘voice’ and ‘phishing’.

How it could happen to you

• A call out of the blue alerts you to possible fraud on your account. The caller claims to be a police officer or from your bank’s fraud prevention department.
• They tell you that your local bank staff are being investigated as part of a suspected fraud. To keep your account safe, you must withdraw the cash from it and then meet the alleged fraud prevention officer in person to hand it over.
• In other cases, you may instead be told your account is under investigation and that you need to transfer your money to a ‘safe account’.
• If you then tell the fraudsters you don’t have mobile or online banking, you may be advised that to prevent the fraud, a courier has been sent to your home address to pick up your bank cards and PIN for safekeeping.
• Another twist sees you receive an unexpected call about a refund or problem with your payment card. To sort it, they ask you to confirm your payment and bank account details. You share these and the fraudsters make payments from your account.

Stop, think and act

We will never ask you to move your money to a ‘safe’ account. The police won’t either. If you get an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be from us or the police, hang up – wait for a few minutes or until the line is clear – and then call the number on the back of your bank card to report it.
Never disclose your PIN or hand over your bank cards to anyone. We will never visit your home address and ask you to give us your cards, PINs and personal details. The police won’t either.
If you accidentally share your details and later realise you’ve been conned, call your bank immediately. You should use a different phone to the one the fraudsters called you on. This is because they can intercept your outgoing calls, even after you’ve ended the fraudulent call – so they could pretend to be your bank when you try to report them. The number to call should be listed on the back of your payment card.

If you bank with us, you can always use our telephone number checker to make sure the number is genuine.

Your inbox pings with a text message from a number you don’t recognise or one that appears to from be a major bank, company or local authority asking you to take urgent action. You reply and end up giving away details such as log-in passwords, your bank account details and other personal information that fraudsters can use to defraud you.

The term ‘smishing’ stems from the original name for a text, ‘SMS’ (short message service) and ‘phishing’.

How it could happen to you

• You receive an unexpected text message from a number you’ve never seen before, or it seemingly comes from a major company, bank or authority such as a financial regulator
• It contains an ‘urgent’ message, and asks you to take immediate action by clicking on a link to a website or calling a telephone number you don’t recognise. 
• When you click or call, you’re asked to provide personal information, such as your bank account password and financial details. These can then be used to steal cash from you or to commit identity fraud.

Stop, think and act

Don’t click on any links, and – if it seems to be from your bank - always check any telephone numbers embedded in the text by visiting their official website.

If you bank with us, use our telephone number checker to make sure the number is genuine. If it isn’t, delete the text message from your phone. If the text does appear to warn you of a genuine security concern, call your bank on the telephone number listed on the back of your card.
 

Fraudsters hack into social media accounts and impersonate their owners. If you’re listed as a friend, family member or colleague on the account, they get in touch and plead for your help in an emergency. You’re tricked into sending money or divulging your bank details to save them.

How it could happen to you

• You’re contacted by someone you know who says they suddenly and desperately need money. Often, they can seem embarrassed or apologetic to make it feel more genuine.
• The bogus cause is usually (but not always) a recent overseas accident, which means that hospital fees need paying, or a hold-up overseas which has triggered a need for a cash lifeline.
• They ask you to transfer money to an account, or to share your bank details to cover the costs

Stop, think and act

Always check that an urgent message like this hasn’t come from a hacked account. Speak to the real person directly to see if their request is genuine.
For more info about keeping your social media profiles safe, see the Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter websites.