A criminal convinces you to provide personal or financial details by claiming to be a person or organisation you trust. This could include the police, your bank, a utility company, a government department or even a friend or family member.
They may say there’s been fraudulent activity on your account, you owe money or they’re in trouble and need financial help from you.
To protect yourself:
- Never share your PIN or one-time passcode with anyone
- Remember that a reputable company wouldn’t threaten you or put you under pressure to get your card details
Never buy gift vouchers for someone you don’t know, or if you’re unsure why someone you know is asking you to.
To learn about more scams, take a look at The Little Book of Big Scams.
