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The sooner you spot fraud, the faster your bank can act to protect you.
Whether it’s credit card transactions and charges or bank transactions that you don’t recognise, here, we show you how to spot and report them.
Check statements carefully
Most people will make quite a lot of payments and transactions in a normal month, so it can be easy for an unusual transaction to slip through unnoticed. It’s really important to check your statements regularly and if you see an unauthorised transaction, report it to your bank straight away.
Statement codes and references
Every transaction on your statement will be listed next to a code – so you can work out how each payment was made. For example, if it says ‘ATM’ that refers to a cash machine. Think; did you use a cash machine on that day, at that time?
This is our list of the codes you’ll find next to the transactions on your statements. Whenever you think you’ve found an unusual transaction, use this table to find out how the payment/withdrawal was made. If you come across a code you can’t identify, always speak to your bank.
Keep an eye out, on and offline
If you get paper bank statements, make sure you’ve received all of them. Missing bank statements could be a sign that a fraudster has managed to get your post or had it sent to another address. This is easier in a block of flats or shared accommodation.
You might also receive a paper bill for something you didn’t buy, or from a company you don’t use. If this happens, report it immediately.
If you think you’ve spotted fraud on your bank account, immediately report it.