Bank sees spike in fraud cases as criminals target Leicester residents in ‘vaccine scam’

A spike in fraud cases is being seen in Leicester, including cases where criminals tell vulnerable people they need to hand over bank details to get their coronavirus vaccine.

HSBC is warning everyone in the city to be vigilant after their branches across Leicester noticed a high number of people falling victim to various scams.

The most common ones were:

• The Vaccine Scam – with the vaccine now being rolled out, fraudsters are sending text messages claiming to offer the chance to apply for a coronavirus jab. They are asking for bank details in order to confirm identity, often doing this through a website given in a link. This scam is also being done by some fraudsters through phone calls. The NHS will never ask you for bank details or to pay for a vaccine.
• The Police Scam – fraudsters posing as police – sometimes impersonating real local officers – claim that bank staff are being investigated for card cloning. Victims are also being advised by fraudsters to visit their branch to temporarily withdraw funds or transfer money to a ‘safe account’. They are coached to what questions the branch would ask. These details are then being used to steal personal and financial details.
• The Courier Scam – the victim typically receives an email from a well-known courier firm or Royal Mail, claiming they have been unable to deliver a parcel. The victim is often asked to pay a small amount as a redelivery charge, in order to get the victim’s card details. This can be followed by a phone call posing as a bank representative, asking the customer to move their money to a ‘safe account’.
• The Queried Transaction – fraudsters posing as bank staff call to advise money has been withdrawn from the customer’s account and asks if it was a genuine transaction. The fraudster then obtain personal details to gain access to customer’s account – or ask them to move money to a ‘safe account’.

Jenny Frank, HSBC’s director for the Leicester area, said: “Sadly, fraudsters are criminals trying to trick you out of your money.

“They pose as trustworthy organisations to encourage you to hand over personal or financial information.

“We see a lot of scams where customers are told their account has been compromised, or the bank can’t be trusted, and to move their money to a ‘safe account’.

“This is not genuine and your bank will never ask you to do this.”

One HSBC UK customer visited the Leicester branch to make a bill payment to a ‘friend’. During the conversation with the customer about the nature of the payment, it transpired that the customer was on the phone to someone purporting to be from Leicestershire Police.

The cashier, who was growing suspicious, managed to warn the customer about impersonation scams which encouraged the customer to hang up.

Jenny said: “Our advice to people is to ‘take five’ and to stop and think – does this feel right?

“The police, your bank or other trusted organisations will never ask you to send money to a ‘safe account’ or to another bank. Criminals will.”

Paul Wenlock from the Leicestershire Police economic crime unit said: “The police will never ask people for their PIN number or passwords or to transfer or withdraw cash or valuables for someone to collect.

“Should you receive any contact from police where someone makes such a request, please hang up the call or do not reply to an email or text.

“You can contact us on 101 should you need to clarify any information. Always leave more than 10 seconds between hanging up a call and dialling out to ensure the original call has terminated.

“If we work together, we can prevent more people falling victim.”

HSBC is advising everyone to just hang up if they get a suspicious call and never following instructions to move money – even to another account in the same name.

People are also advised to avoid clicking on links they receive by email or text and to never give financial details out to callers, however legitimate they seem to be.