Can you spot the risks?
Great news! You're finally building up a healthy-looking bank balance. Now all you have to do is keep your money safe.
Criminals and fraudsters use many techniques to convince you to send them money or to reveal information they can use to access your accounts.
Test your fraud-spotting skills by imagining how you would respond to the following scenarios…
Scenario 1
One of your friends sends you a message on social media. They tell you that they need cash quickly to help with an emergency.
What would you do?
Scenario 2
You're out shopping and you've connected your phone to the shopping centre's public WiFi. You spot the perfect pair of shoes, but you'll need to check your balance to see if you can afford them first...
What would you do?
Scenario 3
You're out with a friend for lunch. You give them your card to pay while you use the bathroom, and they ask for your PIN in case contactless doesn't work.
What would you do?
Warning signs for fraud and scams
One of the most common tricks that criminals use is false or misleading messages. These will often appear to be from a trusted institution such as your bank, the police or a major retailer.
The best way to deal with these messages is to ignore them. Don't click any links and never share personal information.
Some common warning signs that a message may not be trustworthy include:
- encouraging you to take urgent action
- threatening to close your account if you don't respond
- claiming that you owe money that you weren't aware of
- asking you to click a link in an email or text
- asking you to share personal or sensitive information
- poor spelling or grammar
- offers that seem too good to be true
- references to accidents or crimes that you've no memory of being involved in
- requests that you transfer money to a 'safe' account or hold money in your account for a someone else
What to do if you suspect you've been a victim of fraud
If you're worried that your HSBC account has been targeted by fraudsters, you should contact us immediately at +1 441 299 5959.
If you have any non-urgent fraud questions, please visit our security centre or visit your local branch and speak to a member of our team. If we all work together, we can protect ourselves and keep your money safe.
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