Metro Bank is leveraging technology from AI company Ask Silver to help customers quickly determine if they are at risk of a scam by identifying fraudulent communications.
Customers can use their smartphones or tablets to take a photo or screenshot of any suspicious email, website, letter, or leaflet. They can then send this via WhatsApp to the Metro Bank Scam Checker. Ask Silver employs AI to analyze the communication for signs of fraud and provides guidance on how to stay safe.
“This new partnership with Ask Silver is a game changer in protecting customers from fraud and helping to stop crime,” said Baz Thompson, head of fraud at Metro Bank. “Criminals often create a sense of urgency to trick individuals into losing their hard-earned money. Offering a service that can confirm the legitimacy of a communication in minutes is a vital tool in staying one step ahead of fraudsters.”
This service will be available free of charge to Metro Bank customers, who will receive a scam alert on their mobile phones if any communication is found to be fraudulent. Additionally, Ask Silver will report the fraudulent activity to the relevant authorities on the customer’s behalf.
Ask Silver was co-founded by friends Alex Somervell and Jonny Pryn after a close family member lost £150,000 to a scam.
Somervell emphasized the mission of the company: “We’re building the most human-focused anti-scam organization, and partnering with customer-oriented financial institutions like Metro Bank is central to our efforts. We aim to collaborate with banks, public institutions, and individuals to protect loved ones and their hard-earned money.”