Fighting Fraud Face-to-face

At Kent Reliance, we do everything we can to ensure your accounts remain secure. But we also recommend staying up to date with the latest scams so that together, we can stay one step ahead of fraudsters.

Over the summer, our dedicated Financial Crime team visited our branches and invited customers to ask questions about scams, as well as share their own experiences of financial fraud. Unsurprisingly, there was a huge amount of interest in modern fraud techniques, and our team of experts were glad to empower customers with knowledge and guidance of not only how to prevent being scammed, but what to look out for.

Assistant Financial Crime and Risk Officer, Sophie Craven, who was one of the team visiting our branches, has shared her top tips for keeping your money safe and the scammers at bay.

Stay vigilant

Many people think financial fraud only happens through websites, but that’s simply not the case. Whether it’s an unsolicited knock at the door, a text message from an unknown number or a phone call that just doesn’t seem right, always trust your gut and be wary of giving out any sort of personal information.

Take your time

If you’re ever in a situation where you feel rushed or pressured to provide payment details or hand over money, end the interaction as soon as possible and don’t worry about coming across as rude. A legitimate, credible bank or organisation will always allow you to take your time and consider your options.

Play detective

Get into the habit of researching businesses and companies you’ve never used before, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If a website is selling items at prices that look too good to be true, it’s probably because they are. And if someone is at your door with a temptingly low quote to clear your gutters or pave your drive, always take a business card and look for reviews of their work first.

Report what doesn’t feel right

A number of customers told us that they’d in fact been scammed multiple times, which was awful to hear. As well as providing practical information to help them in future, we also emphasised the importance of contacting us at the earliest opportunity in these situations. It really is nothing to be embarrassed about. If you suspect that you or your account have been targeted by fraudsters, call us on 0345 122 1122 or pop into your local branch, and we can help. We also recommend contacting Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or using their online fraud reporting tool on their website.

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