FAKE REALISTIC LETTERS FROM BANK ARE A SCAM
The Action Fraud network are warning the public about fake but realistic letters from Lloyds Bank, saying that there is a problem with your account, and asking you to call a phone number to confirm your details.
The letters have a very real banks’ official heading, but they, as well as the number they ask you to call are fake.
The whole thing is a scam to get you to hand over your bank details without you realising what you are doing.
Although this is limited to Lloyds Bank so far, it is bound to use some of the other banks in the near future, so banks are warning that if you receive any suspicious letters from your bank which could be scams, or seem suspicious, you should call the customer service number on the back of your bank card, not the one on the letter.
Here is a copy of the original Action Fraud warning.
Sophisticated fraud involving convincing bank letters
9th December 2016
Lloyds customers should be on the lookout for a new sophisticated fraud that involves fraudsters sending fake bank letters.
The convincing letters being sent are a replica template from Lloyds and include their logo, address and signature from a customer service representative.
The letter tells recipients that there have been some “unusual transactions” on their personal account and asks them to call a number highlighted in bold to confirm they are genuine.
Automated messages harvesting details
When victims call the number, an automated welcome message is played and the caller is asked to enter their card number, account number and sort code followed by their date of birth.
Victims are then instructed to enter the first and last digit of their security number.
The fraud was spotted by the Daily Telegraph who was alerted to it by a reader who had three identical letters sent to an office address.
On separate occasions the Daily Telegraph ran some tests using fake details and were passed to fraudsters who claimed to be from a Lloyds contact centre. The bank has confirmed that the phone number and letters are fake.
Sophisticated phishing
The letters are essentially a sophisticated phishing attempt and serves as a warning to consumers to question written correspondence from their banks.
If you are ever suspicious about correspondence from your bank you should call the customer serviced number on the back of their card.
For further information visit the Daily Telegraph website.
Please note that Action Fraud is not responsible for the content of external websites.
To report a fraud and cyber crime and receive a police crime reference number, call us on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool.
That was a copy of the original Action Fraud warning.
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