Scam Alert: Watch Out for Fake Lloyds Bank Texts and Courier Fraud

A sophisticated bank scam is currently targeting individuals across the UK. If you receive a text message claiming money is about to be deducted from your account, stay alert—it could cost you your savings.

Here is how the scam works, the specific phone numbers involved, and what to do to protect yourself.

How the Scam Works

1. The Initial Text Message It begins with an urgent SMS claiming that a payment is coming out of your Lloyds Bank account. The message typically arrives from a mobile number starting with +212 777 963 426 (an international mobile number originating from Morocco). The prompt creates a sense of urgency, urging you to contact them or wait for a call.

2. The Follow-Up Phone Call A few days later, you receive a phone call from 020 8072 5700—a London-based landline number that has been repeatedly reported for spoofing fake Lloyds Bank fraud alerts. The caller pretends to be from the bank's fraud department and claims your account is compromised.

3. Courier Collection Fraud The scammer talks you into putting your bank card inside an envelope, assuring you that a courier is on their way to safely collect it for "investigation" or "destruction." Once the courier takes your card, the fraudsters use it along with details gathered during the phone call to drain your funds.

Both the phone numbers and the courier collection method have been formally reported to Lloyds Bank and the police.

Key Warning Signs

• International SMS Numbers: Genuine security alerts from UK banks will not arrive from random international mobile numbers (such as +212 / Morocco).

• Demands for Physical Cards: Your bank or the police will never send a courier to collect your payment card, PIN, or banking details.

• Pressure Tactics: Fraudsters attempt to panic you into taking immediate action without verifying the call.

What to Do If You Receive These Messages or Calls

• Do not respond or call back: Ignore text messages from unknown numbers and hang up immediately if you receive a call from 020 8072 5700.

• Verify independently: Call Lloyds Bank directly using the official number printed on the back of your bank card, or dial 159 (the secure bank fraud helpline in the UK).

• Never hand over your card: Never give your bank card, PIN, or passcodes to anyone who comes to your door or sends a courier.

• Report it:

  • Forward suspicious text messages for free to 7726 (SPAM).

  • Report the incident to Action Fraud online at Report Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Stay vigilant and pass this warning along to friends and family to help keep everyone safe!

Stay Safe Online: Essential Scam Alerts & How to Protect Yourself

Cybercriminals are constantly finding sneaky new ways to target consumers—taking advantage of system outages, impersonating trusted brands, and exploiting family trust. Here is a roundup of the latest scam warnings you need to know about right now, along with steps you can take to keep your personal details secure.

1. Bank Impersonation & System Outages

Scammers are currently exploiting recent Google outages to impersonate banks and major financial organisations.

• The Risk: You may receive urgent requests asking you to verify account details or share sensitive personal information.

• What to Do: Never share financial details over unsolicited messages. If you need to contact your bank, use the phone number on the back of your payment card or dial 159 to connect directly to their fraud department. Keep in mind that customer service lines may be busier than usual, so only call if it is urgent.

2. Fake Apps on Google Play

Cybersecurity firm McAfee has identified nearly 1,000 fraudulent apps on the Google Play Store targeting British consumers.

• The Risk: These apps fake the identity of well-known brands—including PayPal, Apple Pay, and Netflix. One fake PayPal app was downloaded over 10,000 times, and several apps tricked users into fraudulent subscriptions costing up to $49.99 a month.

• What to Do: Only download apps directly from official developer sites or verified links, check publisher reviews carefully, and monitor your bank statements for unauthorized recurring payments.

3. Cold Calls Impersonating Which?

Be on guard against cold calls claiming to represent the consumer group Which? regarding home roofing insulation.

• The Danger: Which? is not making these calls. Engaging with the caller will likely expose you to an insulation or home improvement scam.

• What to Do: Hang up immediately without giving away any personal information. Report suspicious text or call numbers by forwarding them via text to 7726 (a free reporting service).

4. The 'Hi Mum / Hi Dad / Friend' Messaging Scam

The classic family impersonation scam is circulating again across SMS, email, and messaging platforms like WhatsApp.

• How It Works: Scammers pose as your adult children or a friend in distress. They often claim their phone is broken, or give an excuse like "I can't talk on the phone right now, I have laryngitis," to prevent you from calling to verify their voice.

• The Goal: They aim to manufacture urgency and panic before asking you to transfer money or order items online for them.

• What to Do: Pause and verify. Always try calling your relative or friend on their original, known phone number before taking any action or sending money.

5. Spam Calendar Invitations on iPhone & Outlook

A growing phishing tactic involves sending unsolicited calendar invitations via email. Tapping Accept, Maybe, or Decline on your device sends an automatic reply to the scammer, confirming that your email account is active and inviting more spam.

If an invitation gets stuck in your Apple Calendar app via an Outlook account, follow this quick step-by-step fix:

1. Disable Outlook Calendar on iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Calendar > Calendar Accounts. Select your Outlook account, toggle off Calendars, and choose Delete from My iPhone when prompted.

2. Clean Up via Web Browser: Log into your Outlook account on a web browser (outlook.live.com). Locate the spam email, right-click, select Report > Report phishing, and then permanently delete it from your Deleted Items folder.

3. Re-enable Calendar: Go back to your iPhone settings and toggle your Outlook Calendars back on. Your calendar will resync without the offending invitation.

Quick Rules to Remember

• Never rush: Urgency is a scammer’s strongest tool.

• Verify independently: Use official numbers on cards or trusted websites.

• Report suspicious activity: Text spam numbers to 7726 and report phishing emails directly within your email app.

Bexley Crime stats ward summary Oct 2026

Source: Bexley Watch Viz

Warning: Sophisticated Police Impersonation & Crypto Scam Targeting Local Residents

We want to bring an urgent scam warning to the attention of our local community. A resident in our neighbourhood watch recently reported a highly sophisticated fraud call that almost sounded believable.

Fortunately, the resident spotted the warning signs, challenged the caller, hung up, and reported the incident. However, because the caller had specific personal details, it serves as a strong reminder of how convincing these criminals can be.

Here is how the scam works, the warning signs to watch out for, and what to do if you receive a similar call.

How the Scam Worked

The resident received a cold call from someone claiming to be an officer with the Metropolitan Police Cyber Security Team.

1. They had real details: The scammer called the resident by their full name, making the call feel legitimate from the start.

2. They created extreme panic: The scammer claimed police had just apprehended a suspect at Heathrow Airport carrying hundreds of cloned devices containing the resident's personal government IDs, bank details, and crypto accounts (specifically mentioning exchanges like Kraken and Coinbase).

3. They used fake authority: The caller offered a fake, short crime reference number and invented fictitious locations (such as "Chedoheath station") to sound official.

4. The trap: The scammer asked if the resident held a "24-word recovery seed phrase" or crypto login details.

When the resident stated they didn't hold any cryptocurrency, the scammer was caught off guard, began giving contradictory information, and eventually hung up.

Key Red Flags to Spot

• Urgency & Panic: Scammers use high-stress scenarios (like an arrest at an airport or imminent financial loss) to make you react emotionally before thinking logically.

• Asking for Security Credentials: Real police will never ask for your passwords, PINs, 24-word crypto recovery seed phrases, or online banking details.

• Vague Identity: The caller avoided giving a real name or verifiable collar number and provided an invalid crime reference number.

• Requests to Transfer Funds: Law enforcement will never ask you to transfer money or cryptocurrency to a "safe account" or "police wallet" for safekeeping.

What to Do If You Get a Similar Call

1. Hang Up Immediately: Do not feel obliged to be polite or engage in debate.

2. Take a 5-Minute Pause: Scammers can sometimes keep landlines open even after you hang up. Wait at least 5 minutes, or use a completely different phone or mobile line.

3. Verify Independently: If you want to check if a call from the police was genuine, call the non-emergency police number on 101.

4. Never Disclose Recovery Keys or Passwords: No legitimate organization or officer will ever ask for your private crypto seed phrases or banking passwords.

How to Report It

Sharing these attempts helps police build intelligence and protects vulnerable neighbours.

• Report to Report Fraud (Action Fraud): If you've been targeted by a scam call or fraud in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, report it online at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. (In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101).

• Report Nuisance Calls / Mobile Spam: You can report suspicious calls or text messages on your mobile by forwarding the details to 7726 (free of charge on all UK networks).

• Check If Your Data Was Leaked: Scammers often get your name and phone number from past data breaches. You can check if your email address or phone number has been exposed by visiting haveibeenpwned.com.

Please share this warning with neighbours, friends, and family—especially anyone who might be vulnerable to phone scams.

7 phone scam tactics to avoid

Nuisance ‘robocalls’ have surged to a five-year high and fraudsters continue to bombard households with fake bank alerts, bogus delivery messages and dodgy sales pitches.

Some unwanted calls are just annoying, but others could cost you thousands, with scammers coaxing people into engaging with their schemes. We've uncovered seven tactics fraudsters are using and explained how to avoid them. 

Source: Which? (05 Nov 2026)

A nasty WhatsApp takeover scam

Scammers are attempting to take control of people's WhatsApp accounts by luring you into following a dodgy link. It starts with an innocent-looking WhatsApp message from one of your contacts, asking you to vote in a fake competition.

If you click the link to vote, you're then asked to provide your mobile number and to enter a code you're sent. Doing this will link your WhatsApp account to the scammers' computer, and they'll be able to spread their scams to your contacts. 

Source: Which? (03 Nov 2026)

Watch out for scam delivery texts

In the lead-up to Black Friday and Christmas, watch out for scam text messages claiming to be from couriers. The messages may tell you there's an issue with your delivery and instruct you to follow a fake tracking link.

Scammers are getting more cunning at making messages look like the real thing, so follow our tips on how to spot them and what to do if you're targeted.

Source: Which? (03 Nov 2026)