Customers of 20 major banks, including Halifax, Barclays and HSBC, are being urged to take note of a crucial phone number to safeguard themselves from falling victim to scams.
The 159 service, which customers can dial if they receive a suspicious call claiming to be from their bank, has been joined by three new banks, allowing customers to connect to a secure line for their respective institution.
Revolut, Chase and Modulr are the latest to join the service, following in the footsteps of big names such as NatWest and Nationwide.
Many major telephone providers have also signed up. Sean Hegarty, head of Fraud for Chase, stated: "Protecting our customers from fraud and scams is one of our highest priorities, which is why we've joined 159 and partnered with Stop Scams UK. "The 159 hotline is a vital service, providing an even simpler way for customers to call Chase quickly if you suspect you're being targeted by a scammer." In 2023, fraudsters and scammers stole some £1.17billion, while the 159 service has helped protect numerous consumers, receiving over 700,000 calls since its inception in September 2021.
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