Your bank calls saying "move your money to a safe account" — it is authorised push payment fraud
A caller pretending to be from your bank's fraud team says your account has been hacked and you must move all your money to a "safe account" they'll set up. Once you send the money, it is gone. Real UK banks never ask customers to transfer money to a new account for safety — this is the most reported form of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud.
Also known as: safe account scam, authorised push payment fraud, APP fraud UK, fraud team impersonation call, bank transfer scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Hang up immediately. Real banks never ask you to move money to a safe account
- 2 Wait 5 minutes (scammers can keep the phone line open) then call your bank on the number printed on the back of your card, using a different phone if possible
- 3 If you have already made a transfer, call your bank now — under the CRM Code most UK banks now automatically reimburse APP fraud victims for eligible losses
- 4 If money was sent to a UK account and you report within hours, the receiving bank can often freeze the funds before withdrawal — speed matters
- 5 Do not trust caller ID — scammers can display any number, including your bank's real number
- 6 Report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
Red flags
- ⚠ A caller claims to be from your bank's fraud team and says your money is being stolen right now
- ⚠ They tell you not to hang up and not to call the bank back — real banks always let you hang up and call them on the number on the back of your card
- ⚠ Caller ID displays your bank's real name and number — this is spoofing, not proof of authenticity
- ⚠ They ask you to transfer money to a 'safe account' (also called a 'holding account', 'safeguard account', or 'suspense account') — no such thing exists at any UK bank
- ⚠ They coach you to lie to your bank if the bank calls to challenge the transfer, or tell you to say the payment is for 'family' or 'a house deposit'
- ⚠ They may use a fake police officer or FCA officer on the line to reinforce the urgency
Known variants
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'Courier fraud' variant: caller says your card has been cloned and a courier will collect it as evidence. A person in a hi-vis vest arrives at your door, takes your card AND you say your PIN aloud during the earlier call. Predominantly targets elderly Londoners.
Last seen: 6/1/2026
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Bank + police duet: after the fake fraud team call, a second caller pretends to be from the local police or NCA to reinforce urgency. Both use the same script and are the same criminal group.
Last seen: 5/15/2026