NatWest International are proactive in providing you with the knowledge and skills to protect yourself from fraud and scams, and that is why we are proud to support Friends Against Scams, a new partnership initiative with the National Trading Standards Scams Team.

Friends Against Scams aims to raise awareness of fraud and scams, encourage people to take part in short online training session's and make a commitment to spread the fraud protection message to family and friends. Anybody can join Friends Against Scams, helping to spread awareness about scams and make a difference in their own way.

For more information or to complete the online training, please visit the Friends Against Scams website.

Stay safe while you shop online by following some simple steps:

• Only shop on secure and trusted websites.
• Check the website address for misspelt words. Has a fraudster created a clone website that looks similar to the site you want to be on?
• Avoid making payments when connected to free or open networks as these are easier for fraudsters to hack.
• Is an offer price realistic compared to similar items on other sites? A really good deal on an item that’s usually expensive could be a scam.

Take Five is a national campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud. This includes email deception and phone-based scams as well as online fraud – particularly where criminals impersonate trusted organisations. 

Remember to stop and think

• Don't assume an email, text or phone call is authentic
• Don't be rushed - a genuine organisation won't mind waiting
• Listen to your instincts - you know if something doesn't feel right
• Stay in control - don't panic and make a decision you'll regret

For more information please visit the Take Five website.

Phishing is one of the main ways fraudsters will try and get you to hand over your personal information or transfer money to their accounts. These messages could look like they have come from your bank or include links to fraudulent websites.

Follow these steps to stay safe:

• Never give your full Online Banking PIN, password or Card Reader codes to anyone via email
• Never reply to unusual emails – if you’re suspicious about an email, let us know
• Never click on links in suspicious emails

Report any suspicious emails to phishing@natwgroup.com

Identity theft is when a fraudster steals your personal information – usually so they can use it to impersonate you. Some of these details are obviously more sensitive, like the password to Online Banking, however there are other details that fraudsters might want to find out too.

Simple details like these can help a fraudster steal your identity:

• Date of birth
• Full name
• Address

Your personal details need to be kept private. This is why you should always be cautious of what you publish on social media - and check your privacy settings to ensure only people you trust are able to see what you share.

SIM swap is a genuine service which allows you to keep your existing phone number and change between different SIM sizes or phone providers.

 

It is also a technique which is becoming increasingly common amongst fraudsters as it can provide them with the ability to use your mobile phone number and benefit from all your functionality and services such as receiving/making phone calls or receiving/sending SMS messages as well as using any data allowance.

If you have any concerns you should phone your telephone provider immediately to confirm whether a SIM swap has been undertaken, if it is confirmed you must phone your Bank/s, who may hold your mobile number as a contact for you.

Fraudsters often contact you pretending to be from the Bank, the Police or companies you trust to convince you to pay money outside your account.

A common strategy fraudsters may use is to pose to be a known company that you may use and advise that you have overpaid a payment in the past and that you are owed a refund. The fraudsters would then try to get you to use your card reader to be able to process the refund.

Follow these simple tips to help protect yourself from scams.

• Never give out your Mobile Banking app activation codes and passcode.
• Never give your full Online Banking PIN, password or Card Reader codes to anyone over the phone, even a caller claiming to be from your bank or the police. If you get a call asking you for this information, end the call immediately.
• If you receive a suspicious or unexpected call, always verify the caller using an independently checked phone number such as a contact number from our website.
• If you receive a request to download software to connect to your computer, and you have not initiated the conversation with the company, decline to do so.

Fraudsters send spoof text messages and emails to try and get your personal information. These messages may well have been doctored so that they appear to come from a genuine Bank number or email ID. They usually contain links which lead to websites asking you to enter your Online Banking login information or other personal information.

We recommend you follow these simple steps to help stay secure:

• Don’t give your full Online Banking PIN and password to anyone – including the bank
• Never tell anybody your card reader codes, or use them when logging in online
• Never respond to suspicious emails or text messages
• Never click on links or attachments in suspicious emails or text messages

If you’re in doubt if a message from us, please contact us immediately.