"Suspicious Activity On Your Account" #FraudFree2026

Good afternoon,

We receive a lot of reports from residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight stating that they answered the phone to someone purporting to be their bank advising of “suspicious activity on your account”.    It is highly unlikely to be your bank, it is much more likely to be a criminal trying to get you to hand over or transfer your hard earned cash to them.

If this happens to you, please immediately end the call, wait a few minutes (or use a different phone), phone 159 (or the number on the back of your bank card) and find out if your bank really are trying to get hold of you - or if it is a criminal impersonating your bank.

Lloyds Bank have provided the following advice and made a short audio recording of the type of call you might encounter: https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/protecting-yourself-from-fraud/scam-calls.html

Other bank/building society websites:

Barclays: https://www.barclays.co.uk/fraud-and-scams/phone-number-checker/

Financial Conduct Authority: https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/fake-fca-communications

Halifax: https://www.halifax.co.uk/helpcentre/protecting-yourself-from-fraud/scam-calls.html 

HSBC: https://www.business.ciiom.hsbc.com/en-gb/regulations/fraud-guide 

Lloyds  https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/protecting-yourself-from-fraud/scam-calls.html

Nationwide: https://www.nationwide.co.uk/help/fraud-and-security/fraud-alert-messages/

NatWest: https://www.natwestinternational.com/global/fraud-and-security/spotting-scams/telephone-scams.html

Santander (Safe Account Scams): https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/fraud-and-security/spotting-fraud-or-scams#sp-28577

Image courtesy of Lloyds Bank – we’re not recommending any one bank, but their message was succinct and useful video.