Can you Spot the Scams? RBS Study

According to Financial Fraud Action UK, fraud cost the British population more than £600m last year. Do you know how to protect yourself against the most widespread scams?

RBS has been working together with the British Bankers Association to help raise customer awareness of some of the most common fraud tactics used by criminals, over the phone, via email or via text. A recent YouGov survey found that lots of customers could fall foul of the most prevalent frauds

• 18.5 million vulnerable to “vishing” or voice phishing
• 5 million might transfer money into another supposed “safe” account if instructed
• 4 million could be willing to carry out “test transactions” online
• 2 million would pass their bank card over to a courier on their doorstep if they carried some form of ID card

To counter this, we’ve teamed up with the other UK retail banks – alongside law enforcement bodies, including the City of London Police and the National Crime Agency – to launch an awareness drive called Know Fraud No Fraud.  The aim of it is to help their customers spot the difference between a legitimate call from their bank and a call from a fraudster.

The campaign outlines eight things your bank would never ask you (but a fraudster might), advice on how to avoid becoming a victim and instructions on what to do if you do get caught out.

The leaflet sets out eight things your bank will NEVER ask you to do:

1. Ask for your full PIN number or any online banking passwords over the phone or via email
2. Send someone to your home to collect cash, bank cards or anything else
3. Ask you to email or text personal or banking information
4. Send an email with a link to a page which asks you to enter your online banking log-in details
5. Ask you to authorise the transfer of funds to a new account or hand over cash
6. Call to advise you to buy diamonds, land or other commodities
7. Ask you to carry out a test transaction online
8. Provide banking services through any mobile apps other than the bank’s official apps

Our infographic has more detail on some of the most common types of fraud and how you can protect yourself against them.