Barclays has issued a fresh warning to all customers as of June 5, as scams continue to leave bank account holders out of pocket. In a ‘red flag’ warning to its members on Facebook, the popular UK bank reminded customers of the warning signs to look out for to avoid losing money.
New Barclays research reveals that one in five consumers (18 per cent) have fallen victim to a scam in the last year. The vast majority of this group – 93 per cent – fell victim online. An additional two in five (43 per cent) were targeted but managed to identify the scam before handing over their hard-earned funds.
In the Facebook post, the bank said: “Can you spot the 4 red flags in this accommodation advert? #TakeFive.” It added: “Click the link in for more fraud and scams info: https://www.barclays.co.uk/fraud-and-scams/.”
The post includes a short video showing an example of an online holiday accommodation advert. The advert claims to be offering a ‘five-star seaside and luxury apartment’ for only £29 per night as part of a ‘flash sale’.
While this seems like an offer too good to pass up, Barclays reminds customers of the ‘red flags’ to be careful of that show the deal is actually ‘too good to be true’. The video begins by asking viewers: “Can you spot the red flags in this listing in under 10 seconds?”
The first warning sign the bank points out is the advert’s fake image of a holiday resort, which Barclays says is “AI generated or 3D rendered”. The advert claims payees will have an “entire house” to themselves in Malaga, Spain, including two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
However, there are no reviews, and the accommodation is yet to receive any customer ratings, which Barclays lists as a second red flag. For the third, the bank points out how the host ‘Andrea’ has had ‘0 years hosting’, which likely means she is a bot or scam owner. The last is the price, which Barclays describes as simply “too good to be true”.
Barclays has shared advice on its website regarding ways people can avoid falling victim to a scam online. “Anyone can be tricked by a scammer – they change tactics often, and adapt quickly. Did you know a fraudulent transaction happens every 15 seconds in the UK? We’re constantly uncovering new scams,” the bank says.
Barclays will never:
- Tell you to transfer money out of your account to keep it safe from fraud
- Ask for your PIN, PINsentry code, activation code, QR activation code or online banking passcodes
- Ask you to help us with an internal investigation
- Tell you to lie to people who work at the bank about a payment or withdrawal
- Ask you to give us remote access to your device
- Say your money isn’t safe or your account is at risk
- Share details we have about you to convince you it’s us
- Send a courier to your house to pick something up
- Text you with a link to make a payment
- Object to you checking any communication from us is genuine – we’ll be pleased you’re vigilant!
Things scammers often do:
- Convince you that your money isn’t safe or your account is at risk
- Create elaborate stories about why you need to do something, such as pretending to be a family member who has lost their phone
- Use ‘authority’ to gain your trust – for example, say they’re from HMRC or a well-known company and you need to make an urgent payment
- Pressure or worry you, or say that you could get in trouble or be arrested
- Say you need to move money out of your account due to a fraud investigation
- Tell you to lie to people who work at a bank about why you’re making a payment
- Ask you to make a payment in your app or Online Banking, and tell you which payment type to choose – for example, saying you need to choose ‘Friends and family’ or say you don’t need to read the warnings
The ‘take five’ approach
A statement on Barclays website says: “We’re teaming up with UK Finance, who’ve launched their ‘Take Five to Stop Fraud’ campaign to help keep you safe from fraud and scams. Following these steps can help protect you and your money.” The first step is to “take a moment to stop and think before giving out your personal or payment details.”
The second is to ask yourself: “Could it be fake?” The bank explains: “It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests you think seem suspicious – only criminals will try to rush or panic you.”
The third step reads: “If you believe you’ve been targeted by scammers, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk. If you’re in Scotland, please report it to Police Scotland directly by calling 101.”
