Bank safely
When you use your bank account you need to stay safe and secure. Learn how to spot a scam, what to do if you’re contacted unexpectedly, and advice on how to stay safe.
Card safety
It’s a good idea to be careful with your card and card details when you use it at a cash machine, in a restaurant or a shop.
What to look out for:
- People looking over your shoulder - If you use a cash machine or card reader don’t let anyone stand close enough to see what you're doing.
- People offering help - If a stranger offers to help you at a cash machine, put your card away and leave. This is a scam to try and see your PIN and steal your card.
- A server taking your card away - Never let your card out of your sight. You should go to the till or wait for a card machine to come to you.
What you can do:
- Use a cash machine inside a bank branch - It’s harder to try to steal from you if you use a cash machine inside a bank branch.
- Don’t let anyone see your PIN - Your card and PIN are just for you. Never let anyone else see your PIN when you use a cash machine or a card reader. Always shield the keypad so no one can see what you enter.
- Use Contactless or phone apps to pay - You can pay for things quickly and safely with Contactless or a phone app. And you don’t have to use your PIN.
- Don’t write your PIN down - If you write your PIN down then someone else could use it to get your money.
- Change your PIN - If you think someone has seen your PIN then you should change it. You can do this on a Bank of Scotland cash machine.
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Unknown payments and disputes with a seller
If you don't get what you thought you were buying, it may not be fraud. The same can be said if you see a payment on your statement that you don’t recognise. Learn more about checking payments and seller disputes here:
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Prudential Regulation Authority
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