Barclays Bank Plc Email Scams

Scammers are quick to adapt – and we’re constantly uncovering new scams.

If you’ve received an unexpected call that you’re not sure is from us, end the call and phone us back from a different phone, or call a friend to see if the scammers are hanging onto the line.

Latest scams

The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Scammers are coming up with new ways to trick people during this sad time. Please remember that money, passports and other things that mention ‘Her Majesty’s Government’ can still be used and don’t need to be replaced – anyone saying they do could be a scammer. 

Be wary of anyone selling commemorative stamps, coins or other royal memorabilia, and look out for fake offers charging a fee for something that’s actually free, like attending a free event or signing a public book of remembrance.

Cost of living scams

Fraudsters will try to take advantage of the cost of living crisis and might get in contact about a range of issues affecting us all. They might pretend to represent local councils offering financial support, energy companies, or retailers offering too-good-to-be-true discounts, or direct you to fake loan websites or offers.

The government has recently announced a range of measures to help families with the rising cost of living. If someone calls you pretending to be from the council and asks for your bank details so they can give you a refund, hang up. If they text or email you, don’t click on any links. Councils will never call or email asking for your bank details.

The gov.uk website has more information about the rebates the government is offering, where you can see if you’re eligible and find out how to claim them.

The rising cost of energy is also leading to scammers contacting consumers about energy price offers and refunds. If someone gets in touch about an offer for a great energy price deal or a refund, don’t click on any links or give them any personal information over the phone. Genuine companies will understand if you want to look into the offer, or call back on a number you can find on their website.

If you’re looking for retail offers and discounts, be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Use reputable discount websites by typing the address in rather than using a search engine, or go directly to the retailer. 

Scammers could set up fake loan websites. The interest rate may seem low, but they’ll say you need to pay an admin fee before they can release the money – this will be a scam. Always check a company offering loans is fully regulated by checking the FCA website. If you’re struggling financially, talk to your bank and see what support they can offer.

Remember – if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Impersonation scams

Scammers are sending texts that appear to be from ‘Barclays’. If you receive a text with a one-time passcode you didn’t ask for, or about a payment you don’t recognise, it’s probably a scam.

Scammers impersonate us to get you to trust them. Then they try to convince you to hand over your details so they can access your account, or transfer your funds to a ‘safe account’.

Always double check the company’s name, as scammers often get it wrong – for example, they might say ‘Curry’s’ instead of ‘Currys’ or ‘AIRBNB’ instead of ‘Airbnb’.

Don’t call any numbers, select any links or open attachments in messages you don’t recognise or aren’t expecting. We’ll never ask you to transfer your money to a ‘safe account’ – no legitimate company will. 

Covid vaccine passport scam

Scammers send an email claiming to be from the NHS, asking you to a click a link to apply for a ‘Digital Coronavirus Passport’. It then asks for personal and payment details to pay an admin fee. If you receive an email like this, don’t click on the link or give out any details.

Humanitarian scams

Fraudsters often use global events or tragedies as an opportunity to prey on your compassion and willingness to help others in need. They may use the situation in Ukraine as a cover story to get you to divulge personal details, move money out of your account, or ask for donations to fake relief efforts. Please be careful and check you’re donating to an accredited, legitimate charity.

WhatsApp friends and family impersonation scam

Scammers send messages where they impersonate your family members or friends. They’ll give a reason why they’re using a different number, like saying they’ve lost their phone, then mention a reason they need money, such as an unpaid bill or a lost wallet. Never send a photo of the front and back of your card – this will allow someone to make purchases using your card or even access your online banking.
 
If you get a message from friends or family asking for money, give them a call on a number you trust and speak to them before you make any payments.
 
If you believe you’ve been contacted on WhatsApp by someone using a fraudulent number, please help WhatsApp close down these numbers by reporting it directly to them. You do this by tapping the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen in the chat, choose ‘More’ and then ‘Report’. Once you’ve done that, you can repeat those steps to block the number from contacting you again.

Text messages about voicemail

Some scammers have been sending people messages with links to listen to a new voicemail. If you open the link your smartphone could be infected with malware that lets them access your bank account, other apps and personal information.

You can keep your account safer by always taking a moment to consider whether a text message you’ve received is genuine – especially if it contains a link. 

Cryptocurrency

Everyone’s talking about cryptocurrency at the moment, but it doesn’t mean you should listen to anyone offering to invest your money in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, especially if they’re offering to open a wallet for you that you wouldn’t have access to.  

Scammers are posing as sales staff to get you to buy into a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’. If you are looking to invest, it’s best to get the opinion of a qualified adviser and check the FCA website – don’t give out any details over the phone.

National Insurance

Fraudsters call you to say your National Insurance number has been compromised and the National Crime Agency will be in touch. They then ask you to give your details or make a payment over the phone to receive your new National Insurance number. If you get a call like this, hang up – only scammers will try to rush or pressure you and your NI number stays the same for life.

How do I know if an email I’ve received from Barclays is genuine?

We may contact you by email from time to time with useful advice and information about products and services, but we’ll:

  • Never email you a link that takes you straight to the Online Banking log-in page
  • Never email you asking you to verify your account details
  • Never email you to ask for your card details, PIN, authorisation codes or passwords
  • Never email you asking you to confirm a recent transaction

Be especially wary if the email doesn’t include your proper name or contains spelling mistakes or poor grammar.

If you’ve received a suspicious email that claims to be from us, please forward it to [email protected] and then delete it immediately.