🚨 BE AWARE OF VISHING SCAMS 🚨

'Vishing' (voice phishing) is when fraudsters call you, pretending to be someone you trust, such as your bank, the police, your mobile phone / broadband provider or other utility company, they may even claim to be a trusted friend or family member.

They may: 

☎️ Display a genuine-looking phone number to you (known as "number spoofing") 

📋 Know some personal details about you 

⏰ Create a sense of urgency or panic 

🤖 Use AI-generated voices to sound like someone you know

A legitimate organisation WILL NEVER: 

❌ Ask you to transfer money to a "safe account". 

❌ Ask for your PIN, password or full banking / credit card details. 

❌ Ask you to give them remote access to your computer or device.

To Protect Yourself 

✅ Stop and think before acting, take your time. 

✅ Never trust the caller ID (the phone number being displayed to you) on its own. 

✅ Hang up if you feel pressured or suspicious. 

✅ Contact the organisation ideally using another phone, via a trusted number from their official website, a bill, bank card, or documentation you may have from that organisation.  To contact you bank quickly call 159. 

✅ Consider agreeing a family safe phrase / password, allowing you to verify genuine calls from loved ones.

🛑Stop. Challenge. Protect.

📞Remember: Caller ID cannot be trusted. Phone numbers can be spoofed to appear genuine. When someone calls you, they are in control. When you hang up and call back (ideally using another phone) via a thoroughly trusted number, you are in control.

If you are the victim of Fraud or Cybercrime

🌐 Report online here: UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud

📞 Or call: 0300 123 2040

📞 To quickly contact your bank dial 159

Please pass this on to friends and family to help keep everyone safe online!