Is that call from your 'bank' real? Number spoofing and 'safe account' scams
The scariest scams are the ones that sound the most official, and nothing sounds more official than a calm voice saying they’re from your bank’s fraud department. This is one of the most damaging scams in the UK because it pushes you, in a panic, to move large sums yourself. Knowing how it works is most of the defence.
The “safe account” trick
The call follows a script. Someone claiming to be from your bank says your account has been compromised — there’s a suspicious payment, or an account has been opened in your name. They’re reassuring and urgent at the same time. Then comes the hook: to “protect” your money, you need to move it to a new “safe account” they’ll set up for you.
That account is theirs. The moment you transfer, the money is gone. Because you authorised the payment, this is known as authorised push payment (APP) fraud — and it’s exactly why scammers prefer it to stealing card numbers.
Why you can’t trust the number on screen
You might think “but the caller ID showed my bank’s real number.” Scammers can fake that — it’s called number spoofing, and the name or number on your screen can be made to match the back of your card. Caller ID is not proof of anything.
The one rule that beats it
Hang up and call your bank back yourself, on the number printed on the back of your card or your statement. Crucially, use a different phone if you can, or wait five minutes first — an old trick is for the scammer to stay silently on the line so that when you “call back,” you’re still connected to them.
Red flags to listen for
- Pressure and urgency — “we must act now.”
- Secrecy — “don’t mention this to the cashier / your family.”
- Asking you to move money to another account “for safety.”
- Asking you to read out a one-time passcode sent by text.
- Asking you to install an app like AnyDesk or TeamViewer so they can “help” — this hands them control of your device.
A real bank will never ask you to move money to a "safe account," read out a one-time code, or install remote-control software. If a caller asks for any of these, it's a scam — hang up.
This scam hits older relatives especially hard, so it’s worth a gentle chat with them — see how to protect your parents and grandparents from scams. If money has already moved, act fast with what to do if you’ve been scammed and how to report a scam in the UK. More in our scams and fraud section.