Scammers Using A Simple Con To Get Into Online Bank Accounts

Residents are being warned of a scam involving some simple techniques which criminals are using to access online banking accounts.

The scam begins with a phone call, claiming to be from your bank, stating that suspicious activity and unusual transactions have taken place on your account. 

Security checks are then made to verify your details, similar to those made by genuine phone calls from a bank. The caller then claims that they are noticing money transfers are taking place between your accounts. 

Next, the caller says they are sending over a verification code to your mobile phone (the number of which they received as part of the security checks). They ask the number to be read out loud to verify the correct number has gone through to the right phone. 

What happens is the scammer is using the code to set up the NatWest app on their phone in YOUR name.

Further details are then verified, with callers asking for the certain letters in your password. This is used those to sign into your account.

By this point, they are able to claim it is not a scam, by referring to recent transactions you have made, as they have managed to succesfully log into your account. 

The final part of the scam involves asking you to delete any mobile banking app which you may have. This is to ensure you do not see what the criminals are doing on your accounts; and to make sure you do not log in to the account, and log them out of it in the process.

A 29 year old woman in Wales had a £20,000 high interest loan taken out in her name after falling for this exact scam. 

TOP TIPS To Avoid This Scam:

• Never read the verification code over the phone - this should just stay with you.
• The bank will never get you to use the card reader to generate any pin or verification code.
• If the bank rings you, ask them what they want and call back from a different phone; using the number on the back of your credit or debit card.