Impersonation Fraud in the UK: Fake Bank Calls, 'Safe Accounts' and Courier Fraud
Impersonation fraud is where criminals pretend to be your bank, the police, HMRC, a loan company or even a family member to get you to move money or hand over your cards. The classic UK version is the 'safe account' scam: a caller from your 'bank's fraud team' says your account is compromised and you must move your savings to a new account to protect them. A related form, courier fraud, involves a fake police officer asking you to withdraw cash or hand your bank card to a courier as 'evidence'. Loan impersonation scams also use the names of real lenders to demand upfront fees. The key fact: no genuine bank or police officer will ever ask you to move money to a 'safe account' or hand over your card, PIN or cash.
Real Scam Message Examples
These are real examples of messages used in this type of scam. If you receive something similar, do not click any links.
Example 1
“Barclays Fraud Team: A payment of £1,249.00 to Apple Store has been attempted on your account. If this was NOT you, reply NO and our team will call you.”
Example 2
“This is DC Harris from the Metropolitan Police. We've arrested someone with your bank card. We need you to withdraw £3,000 as evidence — a courier will collect it. Don't tell the bank staff, they're under investigation.”
Example 3
“Congratulations, your loan of £5,000 with Lloyds Finance has been approved. To release funds, a one-off insurance fee of £195 is required via bank transfer. Reply to proceed.”
Warning Signs of UK Impersonation Fraud
- ⚠A caller says your account is compromised and you must transfer money to a 'safe account' they've set up
- ⚠Someone claiming to be police asks you to help an investigation by withdrawing cash, buying gold, or handing your card to a courier
- ⚠The caller already knows some of your details and the caller ID shows your bank's real number (it can be spoofed)
- ⚠You're told not to tell bank staff the real reason for a transfer because 'staff may be involved'
- ⚠A 'lender' has approved your loan but needs an upfront fee for insurance, admin or 'proof of affordability'
How Does This Scam Work?
- 1It often starts with a fake text about a suspicious payment, or a call where caller ID has been spoofed to show your bank or 999-style numbers
- 2The fraudster builds trust by quoting details they already have — your name, address, part of your card number — often from an earlier phishing text
- 3They create urgency: your money is at risk right now, or a criminal investigation needs your help
- 4You're coached to move money to a 'safe account', read out one-time passcodes, withdraw cash, or hand your card and PIN to a courier
- 5They tell you to lie to your bank if it questions the payment; once the money leaves, it's quickly moved on through mule accounts
Legitimate vs Scam: How to Tell the Difference
| Aspect | ✓ Legitimate | ✗ Scam |
|---|---|---|
| Safe accounts | Banks never ask you to move money to protect it — they freeze the account themselves | Tells you to transfer everything to a new 'safe account' |
| Police | Police never ask you to withdraw cash, buy gold, or hand over your card or PIN | A 'detective' asks for cash or your card as 'evidence' collected by courier |
| Passcodes | Your bank will never ask you to read out a one-time passcode or your full PIN | Asks you to read out codes sent to your phone to 'cancel' a payment |
| Loans | FCA-authorised lenders take any fees from the loan or as agreed in writing — never an upfront transfer to release funds | Demands an upfront 'insurance' or 'admin' fee before paying out |
What Should You Do?
- ✓Hang up. Call your bank on 159 or the number on the back of your card — ideally from a different phone, or wait a few minutes, as fraudsters can keep a landline open
- ✓Never move money to a 'safe account', read out a passcode, or hand your card, PIN or cash to anyone who comes to your door
- ✓Paste the suspicious message into ScamCheck for an instant verdict
- ✓Forward scam texts to 7726. Check any lender on the FCA Register before paying anything
- ✓Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. If a courier is on the way to collect cash or a card, call 999
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Check it now — it's free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is impersonation fraud in the UK?
Impersonation fraud is when a criminal pretends to be a trusted organisation — your bank, the police, HMRC, a delivery firm or a lender — to trick you into sending money or revealing security details. In the UK it's most often the 'safe account' scam or courier fraud.
What is courier fraud?
Courier fraud is when someone posing as a police officer or bank official calls and persuades you to hand over cash, your bank card and PIN, or valuables to a courier who comes to your home. Genuine police and banks never do this. If it happens, call 999 while the courier is on the way.
What is 159?
159 is a free UK phone service run by Stop Scams UK that connects you securely to your bank's official line. Most major UK banks and building societies take part. Use it whenever you get an unexpected call claiming to be from your bank.
What is a loan impersonation scam?
Fraudsters pose as real lenders or brokers, 'approve' you for a loan, then ask for an upfront fee for insurance or admin before paying out. The loan never arrives. Check the firm on the FCA Register and only contact it using the details listed there.
Will my bank refund me if I was tricked into moving money?
Often, yes. Since October 2024 UK payment providers must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment fraud made via Faster Payments, up to a set limit, unless there was gross negligence. Contact your bank as soon as possible and report it to Action Fraud.
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