HSBC in Guernsey and Jersey are encouraging you to ‘take five’ and learn more about fraud and financial scams.
They’re backing a national campaign, called ‘Take Five to Stop Fraud Week’, being run by Financial Fraud Action UK and the UK Government.
Here in the islands this week, staff in branches are talking to customers about the campaign, discussing some of the tactics commonly used by fraudsters, and explaining how banks can help them spot potential scams.
There are three key messages:
A genuine bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account. Only give out your personal or financial details to use a service that you have given your consent to, that you trust and that you are expecting to be contacted by.
Don’t be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.
Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam. Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.
Peter Faulhaber, Head of Retail Distribution, Branch Network, HSBC Channel Islands and Isle of Man, said: “Many people may already have an understanding of financial fraud – that they should never be asked for the PIN or that no-one should ever ask them for their full password, for example – but sometimes in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget this.”
“This campaign is all about urging people to just take a few minutes to stop and consider whether you might have been targeted, or whether you’re vulnerable to fraudsters.”
