Have you been messaged by a scammer?

Always call or meet up with the person to check it’s really them and the bank account details are right.
If someone asks you for financial help out of the blue, always check it’s really them. You can meet them in person or, if this isn’t possible, just give them a call on the number you already have for them on your phone. Don’t use the number you’ve been given – it may be a trick.

Ask for a voice note or call if you’ve received a suspicious message.
It’s much easier to hide behind a text message than a phone call or recorded voice. Remember, there's always time to give them a quick phone call to check it’s them and this is a real need. If it’s actually your relative or friend, they won’t mind.

Talk through what you’ve been asked to do with a trusted, independent person.
Talk to friends and family you trust. They may spot something suspicious or know something you don’t.

Know the common tricks that scammers like to use.
Scammers will often message you pretending to be your son or daughter and say their old phone has broken, so they’re messaging you on a new number. They sometimes ask you to delete your existing phone number, stopping you from double-checking whether this is true. This is a warning sign that you’re being scammed.

Ask yourself whether what you’re being told seems realistic.
Why are you being asked to pay money into a different bank account than the one you would normally use? Would your child or friend really have broken their phone, lost access to their bank account and created a new bank account without telling you any of this before? Consider whether this request is out of character and why there is such urgency.

Don’t forget about our Scam Checker Service.
If you’re ever unsure about a payment you’re making from your Nationwide current account, you can talk to us first. Call us, or visit us in branch, and we’ll tell you if we think it’s a scam or not. This is our Scam Checker Service. Some payments are excluded.