The customer believed they were on the phone to their bank
Stock image (Getty)
A bank customer from west Belfast has been swindled out of thousands of pounds after they believed they were on the phone to their bank – but that was not the case.
The customer disclosed details of their security questions and online banking PIN and was robbed as a result.
Police are now urging the public to be vigilant and to never disclose personal or financial details over the phone.
The PSNI’s local policing Chief Inspector for west Belfast, Claire Hamilton, said: “On Tuesday, 5 June we received a report from a member of the public who had been contacted by a person claiming to be phoning from their bank.
“This person advised that there had been fraudulent activity on the victim’s banking account and asked them what appeared to be security questions, and to provide their online banking PIN.
“With this information, the criminal was able to access personal financial details to allow them to enter the bank account and fraudulently remove the money,” he added.
“Police enquiries into this report remain ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who believes they have been targeted in this way recently, but have not reported it, to do so now to police, to their bank and to Action Fraud.
“This type of financial crime causes a huge amount of distress and worry for the victim.
“Criminals will use every trick in the book to steal your money, and constantly change how they present their scam to lure people in.
“Our advice is that you should never disclose your personal or financial details over the phone, in person, or by email, to someone you don’t know. Guarding your personal and banking details is essential.”
If you have been a victim of a scam, report it to police online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or call on 101, to your bank immediately, online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. You can also forward scam texts to 7726.
Information and advice is also available at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni
