Card fraud
A fraudster gets access to your personal information or steals your credit or debit card details. This lets them spend with your card.
How it could happen to you
Fraudsters might get your card details by:
- Tricking you into entering your details on a fake website
- Intercepting your information when you’re shopping online
- Cloning your card using a modified card reader
- Stealing your card and using it contactlessly or online.
Once they’ve got this information, they can:
- Register your card to their digital wallet
- Buy with your money.
How to protect yourself
- If you’re sent a one-time passcode to authorise a payment or registration, always read the full message to check it matches what you’re doing. If it doesn’t, stop the transaction and don’t use the code or give it to anyone
- Never take a photo of your card, or post your card details anywhere online
- Don’t assume a website is genuine because it has a padlock in the address bar or browser window, as fake sites can have these too
- Before making a card payment online, check the web address. Fake websites often look similar to real ones, but have extra words or spelling mistakes in the address
- Check your balance regularly for unusual transactions. If there’s something you don’t recognise, contact us immediately
- Check your credit rating regularly – this can help you find out whether anyone has tried to apply for credit cards using your personal information
- Shield the keypad every time you enter your pin
- Look closely at any machines when you use your card with. If anything looks unusual or appears to have been tampered with, don’t use them
Cash machine fraud
Fraudsters continue to find new ways to pull off this con, but the outcome is still the same – distracted at an ATM, you lose sight of your card and your bank account is emptied before you realise.
Remote access fraud
Someone calls claiming to be from an organisation you trust. They say there's a problem with your computer or bank account and offer to take remote control of your computer to help fix it.
Mobile malware
Criminals sneak harmful software onto your mobile device. They hide it in apps and updates so you install it without realising. Once installed, the software can steal your personal details and passwords, then log in to your apps.
Phishing, smishing and vishing
You get an email, text message or call claiming to be from a company or organisation you trust, like your bank or the police.
Identity fraud
Fraudsters steal personal information about you to impersonate you. They then take out loans and credit cards in your name, or withdraw cash from your bank account.
Return to fraud and scams homepage
Have you educated yourself enough on the different types of fraud? Head back to the homepage.
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Learn about the different types of scam
Scammers get more sophisticated every day, so it’s important to be alert. We’ve put together some examples of the most common scams, to help keep you protected.
Think you’ve been a victim?
How to report fraud or a scam
Find out what to do if you’re worried about a card payment, how to report fraud and scams and what happens after you tell us, plus get tips on how to help protect yourself.
Take Five to stop fraud
National awareness campaign
Take Five is led by UK Finance and backed by the Government and other organisations. If you receive a phone call, text or email you think might be fake, it urges you to stop – take five – and challenge what you’re told.
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