Barclays has issued a warning to customers about a new scam involving fraudulent text messages that impersonate bank alerts, urging caution as Christmas spending fuels more opportunities for fraudsters. The bank advises verifying messages through official channels and practising patience before responding to suspicious texts.
Barclays customers are being warned to watch out for a scam text message that pretends to be from the bank and says a direct debit has been set up on the account. Consumer group Which? has flagged the message as fraudulent, saying it tries to push recipients into calling a number that puts them in touch with a scammer seeking personal information. With Christmas spending already encouraging more bank activity and more opportunities for fraudsters, the warning is a reminder to treat unexpected payment alerts with caution.
Barclays says customers can check whether a message is genuine by reviewing the bank’s communication history in the Barclays app or online banking. The bank says official fraud-alert texts will only ask customers to reply “Y” or “N” if a transaction has been flagged, and they will not ask for personal details or security information. Barclays also says it will not ring customers to tell them how to respond to a fraud-alert text, and that replies to legitimate messages are free in the UK.
The bank’s wider guidance on scams is built around one simple principle: pause before acting. Barclays tells customers to stop and think before handing over any personal or payment details, and to ignore requests that create pressure or urgency. That warning reflects a broader pattern seen across the banking sector, where fraudsters increasingly use convincing text messages to impersonate legitimate firms and push victims into acting quickly. Security experts have long said that the emotional trigger in these scams is often fear, not sophistication.
If a Barclays customer is unsure about a text message, the bank says the safest route is to contact it directly using the number on the back of the card or, for private banking clients, through their relationship manager. Barclays Private Bank also advises customers who have been targeted by a fraudulent investment pitch to report it to their bank and local police as soon as possible. Anyone who receives a suspicious text can forward it to 7726, the UK’s scam-reporting service, so the number can be investigated.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
