Bank impersonation scams in the UK

Updated 2026-05-02

A caller claims to be from your bank's fraud team. They say your account has been compromised and you need to move funds to a 'safe account' they've set up for you. The safe account belongs to the criminal.

Number spoofing makes it convincing

Scammers spoof the number on the back of your debit card so the call appears legitimate. They may already know your name, address, and last few transactions from a data breach, which they use to build trust before the ask.

Authorised Push Payment (APP) protection

If you authorise the transfer yourself, it's an APP scam. UK banks signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model are required to reimburse blameless victims, and from October 2024 reimbursement became mandatory for most cases up to £85,000. Report fast — the same day if possible.

Red flags

  • Caller asks you to transfer money to a 'safe account'
  • Pressure to act in minutes
  • Insistence that you stay on the phone while you transfer
  • Request to read out a code from your banking app

What to do

  1. Hang up. Wait 5 minutes (some scammers stay on the line).
  2. Call your bank using the number on the back of your card from a different phone if possible.
  3. If you transferred money, contact your bank immediately to attempt recall.
  4. Report to Action Fraud and ask your bank for a CRM reimbursement claim.

Frequently asked questions

Will my bank ever ask me to move money?

No legitimate UK bank will ever ask you to move money to another account for safety. This is the single clearest red flag of an APP scam.

Can I get my money back?

Under the mandatory APP reimbursement rules introduced in October 2024, most blameless victims are reimbursed within 5 business days, up to £85,000.