I think I may have given a fraudster my bank details
What to do if you've given a fraudster your bank details
If you've given a fraudster your bank details, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card or from its official website and explain what's happened.
Give your bank as much detail as possible, including the account number and sort code you sent the money to. Your bank will then investigate your case. You may also wish to contact the recipient's bank to see if it can intervene, you can find out the recipient's bank details by searching the sort code.
Many banks are signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code, which states that blameless scam victims should be reimbursed. If your bank is signed up, it will make its decision in line with the guidance outlined in the code.
Unfortunately, if your bank concludes that money was taken from your account due to you acting negligently, not carrying out due diligence or ignoring warnings (which typically appear on a banking app), it can refuse to reimburse your money. In some cases, banks will accept partial responsibility and refund you some, but not all, of your losses.
Banks must also adhere to the Financial Conduct Authority's guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers. If you believe you were in a vulnerable situation when the fraud took place, you should inform your bank of this.
For more information, see our guide on reporting a scam and how to get your money back after a scam.
If you've fallen victim to fraud, you should update all of your passwords as soon as possible and ensure you use secure passwords when doing so.
If you struggle to keep track of your passwords, you might benefit from using a reputable password manager.
Getting a letter of deadlock
If you're unhappy with your bank's response, you can escalate a complaint through its formal complaints procedure.
If you don't get a satisfactory outcome, you can ask to be issued with a final letter of deadlock so that you can refer your claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
You can use our template letter of deadlock request before going to the Financial Ombudsman (FOS).
How to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service
The FOS is free to use. You can submit a complaint online or call 0300 123 9123.
Explain and document your complaint fully, stating how you'd like the issue to be resolved.
The FOS will consider all the circumstances and may ask you to supply additional information to help it make a decision. Once it has considered the evidence from both sides, it will make a decision.
The decision is binding on the bank but not the consumer, so you're can take your claim to court if you're not satisfied with the outcome.
However, you should think carefully before you start court action and consider whether a judge is any more likely than the FOS to find in your favour.
How to avoid bank scams
Should you fall for one of these scams, there is a chance that you’ll be targeted again, as victims’ details are added to so-called ‘suckers lists’ which are then sold on to other fraudsters.
Don’t be rushed into sending money to someone you do not know, and always ask yourself how likely it is that you have been specially chosen for a particular offer.
All of these scams rely on social engineering - when a fraudster attempts to convince you that they are someone that they aren't and are contacting you from a legitimate organisation that you are probably familiar with, so be on your guard.
Find out more about how to spot a scam.
How fraudsters obtain your bank details
Vishing scams
Scammers can get your bank details in a variety of ways. One of the most common is via 'vishing' phone scams, which typically involve fraudsters deceiving victims into believing they are speaking to a member of their bank's staff.
Usually, the criminal will tell an individual that they have been a victim of fraud and will ask for personal and financial information in order to gain access to their account.
This can include the victim's card details, four digit Pins and passwords. A variation of the scam involves the fraudster persuading the individual to transfer money to other 'safe' accounts.
Email scams
Fraudsters may also attempt to get your bank details via bank email scams. These come in the form of unsolicited emails that claim to be from your bank or another trusted establishment.
Bank scam emails often state that there's a problem with your account and ask you to update your details, either by email or by clicking on a link.
Postal scams
Postal scams typically offer something that sounds attractive but in reality, doesn’t exist. There’s always a catch – you’ll have to pay upfront to receive what’s on offer.
The most common postal scams involve competitions, lotteries and clairvoyants.