Poppy Bilderbeck
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has reminded people what to do if a scammer calls your phone.
Over 45 million people were targeted by scam calls and texts in the space of just three months in 2021, according to Ofcom. And scams continue to evolve, with scammers growing more crafty every year.
But what should you do if you pick up a call and begin to suspect the voice on the other line may be part of a scam? Catch Stop Scam UK's advice, supported by Martin Lewis, here:
In a post to X - formerly known as Twitter - Lewis implores followers to remember the phone number '159'.
He explains: "If you need call your bank urgently (e.g. it's just called you, and you've hung up as it may be a scam) and can't remember its number, just call 159 and it'll put you through.
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"PS if you have had poss scam call, use a different line to call back (or wait an hour) in case they're spoofing a dial tone."
Responding to a comment on the post, Lewis added it doesn't cost anything to dial 159 and the number has been 'around a while', but he just wanted to remind everyone it's there.
Stop Scams UK's website explains how the number works in more detail.
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It states: "159 works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS.
"It’s the number you can trust to get you through to your bank safely and securely, every time.
"So if you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details - stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank.
"This breaks the scam ‘journey’ at the critical moment when you are at most risk of being manipulated into making a payment.
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"So, even if scammers can make contact with you, that link will be broken by your call to 159, before any information is shared, any payment is made, and any harm is done."
According to Stop Scams UK, the cost of calling 159 does 'vary according to your phone provider' but 'in many cases, this will be the same as a national rate call'.
Banks which currently use 159 include some of the major retail banking companies in the UK, such as Barclays, NatWest and Metro Bank.
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A full list can be found on Stop Scams UK's website.