Scam calls

Fraudsters could call your business and pretend to be someone you trust, like your bank or a company you deal with.

The scam is to trick you into paying money to another account - their account.

If in doubt, hang up

If in doubt, hang up

Stop and think - is that phone call genuine? If you’re not sure, hang up. Contact us right away to report a scam.

Contact us now

Could you tell if it’s a scam call?

Fraudsters can copy a phone number so it looks genuine on your caller ID. 

They can sound professional on a call and may know details about your business, such as the bank account number. All of this can help them to win your trust so that you do as they say.

This video shows how scam calls work and could help you to protect your business.

Protect yourself from scam calls

Tips to beat scam calls

  • The following tips can help your business to beat fraud.

    • Take your time - If a caller tries to hurry you into making a quick decision, it’s a sign of a scam. Never rush. A genuine caller won’t mind if you take your time. Fraudsters may ask you to 'keep it quiet' and not tell anyone about the call. Never trust anyone who asks you to do this.
    • Download with care - Unless you called for help, never download anything to a work device for someone who phones up. Fraudsters use this trick to try to take control of a device to steal details and money.
    • Keep your code private - Scam calls can ask for card reader codes. Never give these to a caller, no matter what they tell you. A code can give your OK for money to leave your business account.
    • Log on safely - Unless you called for help, don’t log on to your computer or Internet Banking for a person who calls. And never tell a random caller what’s on your computer screen.
    • Double-check changes - If a supplier or client calls to change their payment account details, you need to double-check. Call them back on a number you trust, not one from a call. Ask them to confirm the name, account number and sort code.
    • If you’re not sure a call is genuine, hang up. To check if we called you, dial 159. This is a safe way to get in touch with us on a landline or mobile.

    But if you need to report fraud, use the contact us page to find the right number.

  • That's wrong!

    We’ll never get in touch to tell you to move money to another account. Only a fraudster would do this. If you get a call like this, hang up. Learn how to avoid a scam call

    That’s right!

    We’ll never call to tell you to move money to another account. Only a fraudster would do this. If you get a call like this, hang up.

    That's wrong!

    We’ll never call to ask for your logon details or card reader codes. Only fraudsters do this. Unless you called for help, don’t log on to your computer or Internet Banking for anyone who calls. And never tell a caller your card reader code. Learn how to avoid a scam call

    That's right!

    We’ll never call to ask for your logon details or card reader codes. Only fraudsters do this.

    That's wrong!

    We’ll never call from the number on the back of your bank card. Fraudsters can tell you to check this number to pretend it’s us calling. They can copy any of our telephone numbers to look genuine on your caller ID. If you get a call like this, hang up.Learn how to avoid a scam call

    That's right!

    We’ll never call from the number on the back of your card. Fraudsters can tell you to check this number to convince you it’s a genuine call. If in doubt, hang up.

  • We’ll never call to tell you to move money to another account. And we’ll never call to ask for your:

    • full banking details
    • card reader codes
    • password
    • PIN or
    • memorable information.

    If you get a call like this, hang up.

    A genuine caller won’t mind if you hang up. They’ll always find another way to contact you. Or you can contact them.

    Always use a number you trust from your own records or a website, not one from a call.

    Or you can call your Relationship Manager.

    Fraudsters want you to talk so they can trick you into a scam. They hate it if you hang up. But that’s how you beat a scam call.

    Make sure everyone at your business knows what to do.

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Scam messages

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Invoice fraud

Important Legal Information

Calls may be monitored or recorded in case we need to check we have carried out your instructions correctly and to help improve our quality of service.

The products and services outlined on this site may be offered by legal entities from across Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank plc and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc. Lloyds Bank plc and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc are separate legal entities within the Lloyds Banking Group.

Lloyds Bank is a trading name of Lloyds Bank plc, Bank of Scotland plc and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc. Lloyds Bank plc. Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no.2065. Bank of Scotland plc. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Registered in Scotland no. SC327000. Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc. Registered office 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no. 10399850. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 119278, 169628 and 763256 respectively.

We adhere to The Standards of Lending Practice which are monitored and enforced by the LSB: www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk.

Eligible deposits with us are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). We are covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Please note that due to FSCS and FOS eligibility criteria not all business customers will be covered.