Fraud prevention and digital security
Keeping your money safe
Our guide to common fraud, scams and security risks, and tips on how you can avoid them.
Warning: Have you been approached with an Investment Opportunity?
Fraudsters are impersonating Barclays in order to scam individuals.
Be alert for any investment opportunities (e.g. mortgage, investments, online trading) offered to you as an individual by someone claiming to be a Barclays Representative – it could be a scam.
What to do if you are approached with an investment opportunity
If you don’t already have an existing relationship with Barclays, please be mindful Barclays would not contact you advising you that you have an outstanding account with Barclays. For more information on scams, please see the Common Scams section. If you are an existing client, contact your Relationship Manager or number on the back of your card to verify if the request is legitimate.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
If you think that you have made a payment in relation to a fraudulent investment opportunity or scam, please contact your bank to attempt retrieval of the payment and file a complaint with the local police as soon as possible, providing them with all the details. Whilst this is likely to be a stressful time for you, Barclays Bank cannot accept responsibility for a payment made by yourself in good faith that turned out to be a scam.
If you have been the victim of a fraud or scam (e.g. Investment/Romance/Inheritance/Marketplace scam) that isn’t related to a Barclays product, but have made a payment to a Barclays account, please contact your bank immediately with details of the scam. They will take steps to investigate the receiving accounts and retrieve your funds wherever possible. You should also file a complaint with local police who will contact us directly should an investigation be launched. Barclays Bank will fully co-operate and assist with any Law Enforcement enquiries.
Remain vigilant for further approaches
Please also note – if you have interacted with the fraudsters it is likely that they will attempt to contact you again, but through a different approach. This includes scenarios such as pretending to be a solicitor, law enforcement or the fraud department of your bank looking to retrieve any lost funds, therefore it is important that you maintain vigilance when being contacted by a third party.