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Fraud Alert

From time to time, you may receive an email that looks like it is from The Access Bank UK Limited, claiming that you have won a lottery prize or are set to inherit a large sum of money from an unknown benefactor. These emails may ask you to verify your personal or bank details or send an advance fee to receive the funds.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited will never participate in any type of lottery scheme, and it is likely that the email is fraudulent, even though it appears genuine.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited will never use free email accounts to contact you, nor will it contact you via instant messaging services or social networking sites.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited will never ask you to send money as part of a job offer or the promise of a job offer.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited will never ask you to send fees in advance via a money transfer service in return for a loan, receipt of a large inheritance or any other banking service.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited has only three websites, the addresses of which are www.theaccessbankukltd.co.uk, www.accessprivatebank.com and www.sensiblesavings.co.uk. If you receive an email which appears to have come from another domain, or you are directed to any other website in our name, it will be fraudulent.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited will never ask you to provide your personal details or bank details by email, unless there are specific requirements set by a customer instructing us to contact them by email only.
 
  • The Access Bank UK Limited is the only bank affiliated to Access Bank Plc of Nigeria that is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK.
  • Our registered company name is The Access Bank UK Limited. Access Private Bank is a division of The Access Bank UK Limited. Neither we nor our parent company Access Bank PLC operate under any other company or trading names in the United Kingdom.
  • The Access Bank UK Limited does not act as an intermediary for online auction sites and would never issue you with a receipt from a buyer, demand that you provide shipping or tracking numbers for an item you are selling or ask you to send fees in advance or purchase gift cards as part of the transaction.
  • Please follow the link to our leaflet for some useful information about ‘How to protect yourself from debit card fraud’. By using the mobile banking app and following these simple steps we can reduce the risk of debit card fraud. If you have any questions about your debit card, please call the Customer Support Team on +44 (0)1606 537 800 between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

If you receive a call apparently from The Access Bank UK Limited that you were not expecting and want to check whether it was made by us please call us on 0333 222 4516 if you are inside the UK, or on +44 1606 813020 if you are outside of the UK. Our lines are open 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays. If however you believe you are the victim of fraud your next course of action should be to contact your local law enforcement agencies. The Financial Conduct Authority has published helpful information on the most common types of fraud schemes and how to protect yourself from them which you may find useful.

A guide to reporting fraud

If you believe you have responded to a scam or been a victim of fraud, please immediately contact your Relationship Manager in the first instance. Alternatively, please call us on 0333 222 4516 if you are inside the UK, or on +44 1606 813020 if you are outside of the UK. Our lines are open 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays.    

Common types of scams and fraud

Card Fraud
A fraudster gets access to your personal information or steals your credit or debit card details. This lets them spend with your card. Learn more about these methods below:

Card machine fraud
How it could happen to you

  • A fraudster observes over your shoulder whilst withdrawing cash.
  • An individual distracts you at a cash point.
  • As you look or move away from the cash machine, a criminal accomplice steals your cash or card.
  • A criminal steals and replaces your card without you noticing.
  • The card machine looks odd, and has been attached with a skimming device which steal your card and PIN code details.
  • The cash machine does not eject your card or there is an unusual delay in the card ejection process.
 

How to protect yourself

  • If the cash machine looks like it has been tampered with, do not use it.
  • Always shield your pin code at a cash point.
  • Never let anyone distract you at a cash point, stay focused.
  • If your card has been retained by a card machine, ensure you report it to your card provider immediately – if possible whilst at, or near, the machine.


If the card has been stolen or is missing, please block the card using The Access Bank UK Limited Visa Debit Card App.

For more information about How to protect yourself from debit card fraud please read our leaflet.

Remote purchase fraud
How it could happen to you

  • “Digital skimming” is another method criminals use to steal card data from customers when they shop online. In a typical digital skimming attack, criminals will add malicious code to the online retailer’s website which steals sensitive information including card details at the check-out stage. This information is then sent to a domain controlled by criminals.
  • Stealing your card or card details and making purchases online.
 

How to protect yourself

  • If you are using an online retailer for the first time, always take time to research them before you give them any of your details. Be prepared to ask questions before making a payment.
  • Trust your instincts – if an offer looks too good to believe then it probably is. Be suspicious of prices that are unfeasibly low.
  • Only use retailers you trust, for example, ones you know or have been recommended to you.
  • If you are buying an item made by a major brand, you can often find a list of authorised sellers on their official website.
  • Review your card transactions on The Access Bank UK Limited Visa Debit Card App, if you do not recognise any transactions, report this to the Bank and freeze your card.
  

Card ID Theft
How it could happen to you

  • Third-party application: With third-party application fraud, a criminal will use stolen or fake documents to open a card account in someone else’s name. This information will typically have been gathered through data loss, such as via data hacks and social engineering to compromise personal data.
  • Account takeover: In an account takeover fraud, a criminal takes over another person’s genuine card account.
 

How to protect yourself

  • Destroy unwanted documents including bills, bank statements or post that is received in your name, preferably by using a shredder.
  • Review your card transactions on The Access Bank UK Limited Visa Debit Card App, if you do not recognise any transactions, report this to the Bank and freeze your card.
  • Provide as little personal information about yourself on social media as possible and only accept invitations from people you know.
  • Keep your personal information secure when using your card over the phone, on the internet, or in shops by ensuring that others cannot overhear you or see your information.
 

Card not received fraud
How it could happen to you

  • Criminals typically target properties with communal letterboxes, such as flats, student halls of residence and external mailboxes to commit this type of fraud.
  • People who do not get their mail redirected when they change address are also vulnerable to this type of fraud.
 

How to protect yourself

  • If you are expecting a new card and it has not arrived, contact the Bank immediately.
  • Tell the Bank immediately if you move home.
  • Be extra vigilant if you live in a property where other people may have access to your mail, such as a block of flats.

Phishing, smishing and vishing
How it could happen to you

  • You receive a communication that appears to be genuine and from a legitimate source – however it is a fake.
  • They gain your trust, and trick you into revealing personal and bank details – then use them to access your account and make payments without you knowing.
  • Fraudsters call you pretending to be The Access Bank UK Limited, or another company you trust, and say they will send a one-time passcode to confirm your identity. Really, they are trying to use your card details to make a fraudulent payment, and know we will send you a code to check whether it is genuine. When you share the code with them, they use it to authorise the payment.
 

How to protect yourself

  • Be alert to any unexpected calls or texts received.
  • Be wary if you are asked to open a link or call a number.
  • If you need to visit the company’s website, do not take it from a text message or email link– always type in a web address you know is genuine by hand.
  • Never reveal personal information, your PIN, online banking passwords, one-time passwords.

Authorised Push Payment (App) Fraud
In an authorised push payment scam, a criminal will trick their victim into sending money directly from their account to an account which the criminal controls. Learn more about these methods below: 

Invoice scam
How it could happen to you

  • Criminals target you pretending to be a legitimate supplier. This can be done through hacking your suppliers’ legitimate email, or using a fictitious email. They provide an invoice that appears to be legitimate, however, the payment details have been amended to their own.
  • Criminals create a sense of urgency surrounding the invoice / payment. This is to encourage you to make the payment without performing checks.
 

How to protect yourself

  • Be alert to any unexpected changes to payment details.
  • Always confirm any bank account details directly with the company either on the telephone or in person before you make a payment or transfer any money. Be wary if you are asked to open a link or call a number.
  • Criminals can access or alter emails to make them look genuine. Do not use the contact details in an email, instead check the company’s official website or documentation.
 

Purchase scam
How it could happen to you

  • Criminals pose as a seller of a product, which they advertise at a lower price to attract buyers. While many online platforms offer secure payment options, the criminal will persuade their victim to pay via a bank transfer instead. When the victim transfers the money, the seller disappears, and no goods or services arrive.
 

How to protect yourself

  • Be suspicious of any offers or prices that look too good to be true.
  • Always use the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers and auction websites. Be very wary of requests to pay by bank transfer.
  • Always do your research and ask questions before you buy. Ask to see any vehicle in person first and request the relevant documentation to ensure the seller owns it.
  • Contact your bank straight away if you think you may have fallen for a purchase scam.
 

Investment scam
How it could happen to you

  • Criminals advertise get rich quick schemes for investments with excessive returns.
  • Fraudsters create social media profiles and use them to post fake investment deals or to start up a conversation with you. They might promise to make you money and try to convince you by showing you fake success stories.
 

How to protect yourself

  • Be cautious of approaches presenting you with exclusive investment opportunities. It could be a scam if you are being pressurised to act quickly.
  • Spend time researching an investment to find out if it is real and worth your money. Talk with family and friends, or find an independent financial adviser. Check the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register of genuine companies and advisers, and their scam warning list. Always use the FCA to get contact details like phone numbers and links to a company’s website.
 

Romance scam
How it could happen to you

  • Fraudsters will use fake profiles to target their victims to start a relationship, which they will try to develop over a longer period. Once they have established their victim’s trust, the criminal will then claim to be experiencing a problem, such as an issue with a visa, health issues or flight tickets and ask for money to help.
 

How to protect yourself

  • Avoid sending money to someone you have never met in person, particularly if you have only recently met online.
  • Research the person you are talking to as profile photos may not be genuine. You can do this by uploading a picture of the person you are talking to into search engines to check that profile photos are not associated with another name.
  • Always consider the possibility of a scam.
  • Speak to your family and friends to get advice and clarity.
 

Impersonation scam
How it could happen to you

  • Criminals will research their targets prior to contacting them to obtain personal information.
  • They will build a level of trust by purporting to be from a trustworthy source.
  • The criminals will create a sense of urgency and demand that funds are transferred to a ‘safe account’- this account is owned by the criminal.
 

How to protect yourself

  • The Access Bank UK Ltd or the police will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account or contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN or full password.
  • Contact your bank or an organisation directly using a known email or phone number.
  • Do not give anyone remote access to your computer following a cold call or unsolicited text.
 

Advance fee scam
How it could happen to you

  • Criminals will create a narrative that to receive a high-value good, or to obtain the money from a lottery win, you will have to transfer money to an account owned by the criminal.
 

How to protect yourself

  • It is extremely unlikely that you have won a lottery or competition that you have not entered, and which requires an upfront fee.
  • Verify the contact details of who you have been contacted by.