In response to a sharp rise in sophisticated banking scams, major financial institutions across the United Kingdom have urgently deployed innovative call verification tools designed to protect customers in mere seconds. These features empower account holders to instantly confirm whether an incoming call purportedly from their bank is legitimate, thereby thwarting fraudsters who increasingly impersonate bank staff to steal personal details and funds.
The Escalating Threat of Bank Impersonation Scams
According to recent data from Nationwide, the average person in the UK now receives approximately eight suspicious calls each month. These deceptive communications often involve scammers applying intense pressure on victims to divulge sensitive personal information, share security codes, grant remote access to their devices, or transfer money directly into fraudulent accounts. This alarming trend underscores the critical need for robust, user-friendly security measures that customers can employ swiftly during these high-pressure situations.
How the New Verification Tools Work
Consumer champion Which? highlights that several leading banks now offer similar in-app functionalities to help customers identify and avoid phone-based financial scams. The process is deliberately straightforward, taking only seconds to complete, and could prevent significant sums of money from disappearing from accounts forever.
Nationwide: Millions of members can open the Nationwide app, navigate to the "More" section, and select "Call Checker." The screen will immediately display a clear message: either "You’re on a call with [name]" or "You’re not on a call with us," providing instant clarity.
Barclays: With around 20 million customers, Barclays offers a feature called 'app ID.' If someone calls claiming to be from the bank, the customer can ask the caller to send a secure notification directly to their Barclays app for verification.
Monzo and Starling: Both digital banks provide 'call status' warnings. Monzo displays this information within its security settings, while Starling shows it on the payment screen, allowing users to see instantly if someone from the bank is genuinely on the line.
Revolut: This fintech has introduced a new feature that automatically detects when a user is on a call as they open the app. It then flags whether or not the conversation is with a genuine Revolut agent. For added security, customers can hang up and use the in-app call function to contact support directly.
The Vital 159 Backup Option
For customers whose bank does not yet offer a dedicated call-checking tool, or for those seeking an extra layer of reassurance, Which? strongly recommends hanging up and immediately dialling 159. This centralised number connects callers to an automated service that asks which bank they wish to be connected to. Bank staff can then confirm whether the previous call was authentic or a scam, providing crucial peace of mind.
This service is supported by a wide range of participating banks, including The Co-operative Bank, Danske Bank, Chase, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Metro Bank, NatWest, Santander, and TSB. The collective rollout of these verification tools and the 159 service represents a significant, coordinated effort by the UK banking sector to empower consumers and combat the escalating fraud epidemic threatening financial security nationwide.
