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What are Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams?
Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud is a transfer of funds across Faster Payments, CHAPS or an internal transfer, authorised by a customer where:
– The customer intended to transfer funds to another person, but was instead deceived into transferring the funds to a different person; or
– The customer transferred funds to another person for what they believed were legitimate purposes, but which were in fact fraudulent.
The following tips are presented to help keep you safe.
Protect your details
– Keep any online account information, including usernames and passwords, private.
– Never store passwords on your phone or computer – especially if you share these.
– Change passwords regularly. Ensure they are unique from other passwords / strong.
– Make sure any website you are interacting with is official. Look for the padlock icon.
Make payments safely
– Double check payment details. Before you make a payment make sure you are paying the right person or company.
– Don’t rely on an email, text message or caller to give the correct name, account number and sort code. Go to a website or document you are sure is genuine and use those contact details.
– If you aren’t sure, avoid sending the payment.
Action warnings
– If a financial institution gives you a warning, make sure you take the right action to protect yourself.
Here is some more information on specific scam techniques:
Scam emails
– Scam emails pretend to be from someone you trust. A typical scam email will have red flags:
Fraudsters can copy a company logo but they can’t make an exact copy of an email address. Hover over the address to see it in full.
Scam emails come without warning. If one comes out the blue and is about moving your money or sharing your details you, question it.
Spelling and grammar errors can be signs of a scam.
Scam emails will try to convince you to follow a link. This may go to a fake site or pop-up. It is how fraudsters can obtain your details.
– If you spot a trick, don’t reply – just delete the email.
Social media scams
– If you get a message on social media, even if it seems to be from someone you know, it could be a scam.
– It could be a ‘random attack’. A fraudster just needs your phone number or social media profile name to be able to send you a message. You may get a simple message, a ‘hi’, from an unknown number or profile. Never reply – just delete it.
– Or, it might be a ‘hacked account attack’. If a fraudster hacks someone you know they can pretend to be them. If you get a message out the blue asking for something extraordinary, question it – call the person on a number you trust.
Scam calls
– Fraudsters can call to pretend to be a financial institution or company you trust.
– They might use some of your stolen details to make you think it is a real call.
– Fraudsters call anytime, without warning and always want you to move your money.
– So ask yourself – did you expect to get this call.
– It is not rude to hang up on calls like this. So do it – call back on a number you trust