Barclays new £486.99 alert as customers told be aware of getting text message

Barclays new £486.99 alert as customers told be aware of getting text message Customers urged to stay vigilant for the new text message Barclays customers are being urged to keep an eye out for a new text message in a fresh warning, which is prompting people to double-check their money. Barclays has over 20 million retail customers in the UK, so the warning will apply to many people. Bank customers are being urged to stay vigilant following a surge in sophisticated phishing text messages targeting Barclays account holders. Victims are receiving urgent, highly realistic text messages, which closely mimic official bank alerts, about unauthorised payments mysteriously leaving their accounts. A common variation of the text reads: "Barclays Alert: A Direct Debit of £489.99 to TUI has been set up on your account." The message goes on to provide a contact number to 'cancel this payment'. Cybersecurity experts, including Which?, warn that the scam relies heavily on panic. The messages include a fraudulent phone number and instruct the recipient to call immediately if they did not authorise the transaction. Once a victim calls the number, they are connected to fraudsters posing as helpful bank staff. The criminals then attempt to trick the victim into revealing sensitive information, such as online banking passwords, card details, or One-Time Passcodes (OTP). Armed with these details, the scammers can completely drain the victim's bank account. The Norfolk County Council Trading Standards warns: "Criminals are experts at creating spoof messages that then provide links to scammers who will attempt to trick you into providing personal or financial information as part of urgent action they will claim you need to take without closer inspection. "Always be wary of unexpected messages received and never respond, make contact via numbers quoted or click on any links unless you know you can trust them. If you are concerned about the security of a bank account or think you have interacted with a scam message and provided scammers with your financial details, contact your bank directly using the Customer Service number printed on the card, on a recent statement or via information available on their genuine website or app. Never use details provided in an unexpected text message." Barclays says genuine fraud alerts from the bank will never ask customers to call a random number or reveal secure security details. Real alerts typically only require a simple 'Y' or 'N' text response to verify a transaction. If you receive a suspicious text, financial authorities advise taking the following steps: - Do not call the number or click any links in the text. - Verify your account independently by logging into the official Barclays Mobile App or calling the number on the back of your debit card. - Forward the scam text to 7726, the UK’s free network reporting service. - Report directly to Barclays by forwarding a screenshot or the message details to its official phishing email address: [email protected]. You can also report text messages you believe are scams via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on freephone 0808 223 1133. [Image text:] BARCLAYS BARCLAYS Cash BARCLAYS BARCLAYS Cay ln cosh od chees