A major bank is advising its customers to beware of ‘free money’ promises and other bargain offers which could target them on social media. And its message appears to be, if something seems to be too good to be true then it usually is.
Barclays took to social media itself to drive its message home, with an alert shared on Instagram advising people to be vigilant and ‘watch out for red flags’ when browsing online. Sharing an example of a suspicious video, a team member was seen acting as a fraudster telling viewers: “You can claim back thousands from your direct debits.
“I can show you how to get it refunded.” As The Mirror reports, a colleague then interrupts, saying: “If you’re still watching, that means you might need to learn about how to spot a direct debit scam.
“Videos like this, where someone offers you something that’s too good to be true, are often fraud. Remember to never share your bank details with a stranger and, if you see videos like this on your feed, remember to ignore them, block them, and move on.”
A caption with the post adds: “The best way to protect yourself from social media scams is to block any accounts that post this type of content. Remember to watch out for red flags, like being offered ‘free money’ or any other claims that feel too good to be true.”
The Barclays website offers more details of common scams as well as fraud prevention tips. It advises customers who think they may have been the victim of fraud or a scam to immediately stop all contact with the scammer and contact the bank.
Frauds can include a criminal stealing card details; taking the card itself and using it to empty a bank account or identity fraud, where someone’s personal information is targeted in order to open loans and credit cards in their name. Online scams can include sneaking malware onto a mobile phone, hidden in the likes of apps or updates which people can install without realising.
The software can then steal personal details and passwords then log into the person’s apps. Other scams can be phishing attempts where someone receives an email, text message or call claiming to be from a trusted company or organisation such as the bank or even the police.
Barclays urges anyone who thinks money might have been lost, or who has spotted an unauthorised transaction, to call the bank. They should also report the matter to Action Fraud – also called Report Fraud which is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime – and change compromised passwords.
With any suspicious contact stopped, devices should be secured and bank statements checked in case of other issues. Customers can also contact [email protected] to report suspicious emails.
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