Now scammers target TSB customers with fake fraud emails and texts as banking meltdown continues
Fraudsters are trying to cash in on vulnerable TSB customers who have been struggling to access their online banking
FRAUDSTERS are targeting TSB customers with phishing emails in the hope that they will hand over their bank details.
And, as if TSB customers haven't been through enough already, some are STILL struggling to access their online banking almost three weeks after the service went down.
The messages sent by scammers claim to be from the bank and inform customers that their accounts have been suspended due to "recent technical and security issues".
They then ask the account holders to verify them by clicking on a link that's provided.
Instead of directing customers to the genuine TSB website, customers are taken to one run by the fraudsters.
They often ask you to provide your details to "verify" your account but really they are attempting to steal the information needed to access your money.
People have taken to twitter to share some of the fraudulent emails and text messages they've received.
Scammers have even been targeting people who aren't TSB customers in a desperate attempt to steal hard earned cash.
TSB has been replying to some of the tweets to confirm which ones are not genuine.
The bank says that 95 per cent log in attempts are successful, but five per cent of the time, customers are still affected by the outage.
The chaos started after a botched IT upgrade left more than 1.9milllion customers unable to access their online banking.
And even though some customers could get access, they claimed they could see other TSB users’ bank account details or some of their funds were missing.
Since then, the helplines have been inundated with calls leaving potentially vulnerable customers in the dark about what is happening with their money.
How to spot a fake TSB email
IF you've received an email or text message claiming to be from TSB, then these are the things you should look out for:
- TSB will always address a customer by name
- They will never ask a customer for their PIN, password or full memorable information
- The bank would never ask a customer to click on a link in an email that takes you to a page which asks you for your username, password or any other information
- They would never ask a customer to email or text us PINs, card details or passwords
- TSB advises customers not to click on any links in emails if they have any concerns
- They encourage customers to call them if they have any concerns about an email they have received.
Keep up to date with what's going on at TSB .
A spokesperson from TSB told the Sun Online that the mobile and online banking services are "now operating at around the same levels that they were prior to the system change."
On compensation, the spokesperson added: "We will ensure that no customer is left out of pocket as a result of these issues."
Many customers were hit with late payment fees after standing orders bounced because the problems still weren't fixed a week later.
TSB said it would waive overdraft fees last month and offer a five per cent raise in its savings rate, but is still being vague about whether customers will receive compensation.
Some customers have managed to get a payout, but one customer only got £40 to cover a late payment on a credit card.
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The bank handed over £15 to cover interest charged for delayed payments on her credit card, and a further £25 for inconvenience caused.
Lord Alan Sugar has warned Brits about Bitcoin scams using his name and urging them to steer clear.
Some fraudsters are even using fake Mark Zuckerberg Facebook accounts to scam users into forking over thousands of pounds.
TSB meltdown: what are your rights?
IF you’re one of the potentially millions of customers affected by TSB’s online banking problems then here are your rights.
- Will your expenses be covered? If you suffer knock-on costs then the bank has confirmed it will reimburse you. Make a note of dates, keep receipts and a log of how much you've been left out of pocket.
- What are the alternatives? Visit a branch or try telephone banking if you urgently need to access cash.
- Is it a data breach? The bank has denied that there has been a data breach but we've asked for more information on this and will update asap. Don't spend money in your account that isn't yours as you will be liable to pay it back.
- How to complain about your bank? Firstly, complain to TSB. If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction after 8 weeks then you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service
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