NatWest and RBS customers targeted by scammers after spike in number of cases, says Which?
Of the 42 fraud victims who rang the consumer group's helpline in the last half of the year, nearly half of cases (18) involved the two banks
NATWEST and RBS customers are being warned about scammers after Which? found users are being targeted by fraudsters trying to steal cash.
Of the 42 fraud victims who rang the consumer group's helpline between May 2018 and January 2019, nearly half of cases (18) involved the two banks.
Between all 42 victims, the average amount stolen was a whopping £24,000, with the largest single loss a massive £59,680.
So far, only £50,559 has been recovered of the £347,234 stolen.
While this is only a small number of customers in comparison to how many users the banks, which are both part of the RBS Group, have, Which? says it's an "unusually large" number of customers.
The Sun has previously reported cases where NatWest customers have been tricked out of their cash via payment transfer scams.
How to protect yourself from fraudsters
Action Fraud recommends taking the following advice to stay safe:
- When making a purchase, be suspicious of any requests to pay by bank transfer or virtual currency instead of safer methods, such as credit card or payment services such as PayPal.
- Listen to your instincts: If something feels wrong then it is usually right to question it. Don’t pay for goods or services unless you know and trust the individual or business.
- Personal information obtained from data breaches is making it increasingly easier for fraudsters to create highly targeted phishing messages and calls - watch out for these.
- You shouldn’t assume the caller is genuine just because they’re able to provide some basic details about you.
- Always be suspicious of unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information.
They include a student who lost his £17,000 life savings, gardener conned out of £10,000, and a retired NHS worker who lost £42,000.
Which? adds that it's seen a "large spike" in calls about this type of bank transfer scam in general.
Guidelines on how this type of fraud, known as "Authorised Push Payment (APP)", is dealt with are currently being created by an industry steering group.
But one of the proposals is for banks to charge fees or force users to take out insurance to pay for fraud.
Jenny Ross, Which? money editor, said: “It’s concerning that some victims are being refused reimbursement for devastating scam losses even when there are suggestions their account has been accessed by criminals.
“People are losing their life savings while we wait for much-needed new bank transfer rules and protections to put a stop to this worsening crime.
"We must see an agreement urgently reached to ensure victims are properly reimbursed when they have fallen victim through no fault of their own."
An RBS spokesperson told The Sun: "Keeping our customers safe and secure is of paramount importance to us.
"We invest heavily across all our channels to continuously enhance security features to protect our customers.
"Our layered security systems ensure that a number of controls work in the background, in addition to the personal security credentials our customers use for log in and payment authentication."
More on scams and fraud
Banks have been slammed for blaming customers who’ve been scammed.
Plus, here's what REALLY happens when you report fraud.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.