Important Security Warning – Please be vigilant

marcia_

no bank would request you to download an app. Just don't do it. No software needed

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025927#Comment_82025927

The golden rule is they called you. If anyone purporting to be from your bank, the police etc. calls for this sort of thing when you're not expecting the call, it is probably (99%) a scammer.

The bank will never want to install software on your phone but no one else's. The police do not need to move your money to a "safe account".

If it is a legitimate organisation warning or contacting you, they would have no problem with you hanging up and calling back on a publicly verifiable number, like the one on the back of your bank card or one that you have found from their official website.

Have you checked whether your details have been leaked via https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Supatramp

It's all there on Scam Interceptors, an excellent programme.

Hunnie1977

Hi Myra, and thank you all for your responses and feedback.

Please note the following, because this is the part that is very hard to understand unless you have lived through it:

You said: "No bank will ever ask you to download an app."

You are 100% correct — in the normal world.BUT — this is not how they presented it to me.

They did not say: "Please download an app so we can connect to your phone."

They said:

"We have detected that the FRAUDSTERS have already put software on your phone.

Your device is now compromised and is blocking us from securing your money.

To stop THEM, WE need to install OUR official security tool to OVERRIDE what THEY have done.

If you do not install OUR tool, we cannot stop THEM, and we will have to freeze your account permanently to stop you losing everything."

They flipped the script completely.

They told me:*"The app is not us accessing you — it is us fighting the hackers who are already inside you."*

When someone calls you, quotes your full name, address, card details and recent transactions perfectly...And then tells you that YOU are infected and THEY are the cure...

What are you supposed to do?

Say "No, I don't believe you" while they are reading out your private life to you?Say "I'll let them steal my money instead"?

I acted exactly how any normal, reasonable person would act when they believe they are speaking to their own bank trying to save their life savings.

That is why this works. It is not about being stupid or careless.It is about being psychologically cornered.

Thank you for the warning — I am sharing this so that everyone understands exactly how they twist the truth to make you feel like you are the one making the safe choice.

Best regards,

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025988#Comment_82025988

The best defence is say exactly "No I don't believe you"

Did you record the call with them as you seem to have it verbatim?

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025988#Comment_82025988

You don't "live through it" you tell anyone who even starts with these lines to shove them where the sun don't shine, as politely (or not) as you can muster.

These scumbags rely on you not thinking - they go for urgency to induce panic, they try every trick in the book. The bank won't ask you to download an app, if they do they're scammers.

If you answer any calls you're not expecting from an organisation it is best to assume from the off they're going to scam you.

I have almost been caught out - unfortunately the "bank" got the email address I use for banking services wrong, and it was so obviously wrong that I knew exactly where my details had leaked.

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025968#Comment_82025968

Bank fraud teams sometimes WILL genuinely call you if they detect suspicious activity on your cards - it;s happened to someone I know . But what you then need to do is finish the call and call the number shown on the back of your card (ideally from a different phone) to ensure that you are talking to the legitimate bank and not a scammer.

ballyblack

They do not sound like scammers —
they sound like highly trained bank managers."

One in the same in my experience!😂

LightFlare

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025988#Comment_82025988

Have sympathy with you

Some of these scumbags are unfortunately very good at what they do and almost depend on the shock/panic response

I would question not necessarily how they got your name and address- but recent transactions is the one that would raise my eyebrows (however, it’s probably this info that made them seem more legit)

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025997#Comment_82025997

I restart my phone if I have to use the same one.