Barclays Bank - Urgent Information Request

Grumpy_chap

The other day I received an e-mail from Barclays Bank requesting that I urgently confirmed some important information - it was essential I did this to prevent crime and support Barclay's in their legal obligations.  Then there was a hyperlink "click here to update your important information" (or something similar).  Anyway, it had all the hallmarks of being a scam / fraud / phising exercise so I deleted the e-mail.

Today I have received a letter from Barclays purportedly seeking the same information but still with the marks of a scam - urgency, legal obligation, importance etc. etc.

Does anyone know whether this is genuine?

HampshireH

Have you phoned them up to ask or checked your online banking?

MikeJXE

It's a scam. Contact the bank by another method and ask for their fraud line. Better safe than sorry

Grumpy_chap

I have not phoned them - they are not particularly good at telephone banking. 
I have not visited a Branch as they closed the local Branches so it is a hassle and long queue when you do get there.

I did check online banking and there was no reference in the message portal or elsewhere that I could see.  Certainly not a message in the prominent box used for advance notifications of outages or advertising insurance or whatever Barclay's think is important.

MikeJXE

I'm with Santander and their policy is they will never contact you by email of text so you could check Barclays policy, If as you say you have received a letter in the post that should be ok. 

Boltonsian

If EVER in any doubt, regarding the accuracy/truth/source of ANY communication (Letter  Post OR email OR Landline Call OR Mobile Call OR SMS) ..... TWO THINGS, 1st 'some organisations' undertake to 'share' personal data, by way of affirming their legitimacy ... be aware, some scammers do 'borrow' that technique e.g. Postcode; 2)NEVER accept ANY link/address/phone number QUOTED in the communication, ALWAYS use a means you KNOW or HAVE USED, that definitely 'makes contact' to the LEGITIMATE Company/Organisation, to then verify accuracy OR NOT of 'What you receive' then you will not fall foul of 'becoming ungrateful of being scammed'.

Katiehound

personally I would phone them, I used to bank with them until a couple of years ago and I don't think I ever waited that long.

you know what their numbers are, and you are initiating the call- not them (or a scammer.)

if it genuine then tell them what you think of contacting you this way !
I would think that a letter is likely to be genuine but I would still be querying.

I once had a long argument with Halifax when they phoned me and said that I would have to go through security before they would tell me what the call was about! I refused and said that they could say that they were anyone. They couldn't understand why I was so angry- and this is some years ago before the scammers really took off.

xylophone

The other day I received an e-mail from Barclays Bank requesting that I urgently confirmed some important information 

https://www.barclays.co.uk/fraud-and-scams/scams-protection/

If you get an email or text that looks suspicious, please forward it, along with any attachments if possible, to internetsecurity@barclays.com.

Band7

MikeJXE said:

It's a scam. Contact the bank by another method and ask for their fraud line. Better safe than sorry

I doubt it's a scam if the second request came by letter.

It would be foolish to ignore the request. Phone them or call into a Branch if you are concerned. Do it before they block, and eventually close, your account.

You can still lodge a complaint if you feel strongly bout the request - but again, this means you have to contact them!

mab3000

Do you have any business accounts with Barclays? Sounds like something they might do in regards to business banking, a bit unusual if you only have personal accounts. 

The fact that they have followed it up by letter makes me inclined to think that this is something that probably shouldn’t be ignored, and if this was me I would be contacting  Barclays to confirm the  letter and email is genuine

wmb194

Have a look in the 'statements and documents' section of online banking/the app and look to see whether you can see a copy of the letter in there.