More than one million calls have been directed to a dedicated anti-scam service designed to assist individuals who suspect they may be encountering fraud.
The 159 service, launched in September 2021 by Stop Scams UK, connects users directly with their bank. It encompasses 21 financial institutions, including prominent names such as Virgin Money, Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Chase, Danske Bank, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, Metro Bank, Modulr, Monzo, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest, Revolut, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Starling, the Co-operative Bank, Tide, TSB, and Ulster Bank.
Ruth Evans, chairwoman of Stop Scams UK, stated: “Our objective with the launch of 159 was to create an easily memorable resource for individuals to safeguard themselves against scammers. Reaching over one million calls, along with more than 1,600 daily users, highlights the crucial role 159 plays in protecting the public from criminal activities. It’s essential to remember: if you receive an unexpected or suspicious call regarding your finances, stop, hang up, and call 159.”
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, a well-known advocate and often impersonated figure by scammers, emphasized the importance of the 159 number: “It’s a simple choice—commit it to memory. If you need to reach your bank, dialing 159 ensures you’re reaching the legitimate source.”
He further advised, “If your bank calls you unexpectedly and requests personal information, simply inquire about their department, then courteously hang up and dial 159 to verify the call’s authenticity.”
Stop Scams UK is actively collaborating with member organizations across the banking, telecommunications, and social media sectors to develop intelligence-sharing initiatives focused on fraud prevention.
Vim Maru, CEO of Barclays UK, remarked: “Protecting our customers’ financial assets and data is our utmost priority. We firmly believe that collaboration is essential in the battle against fraud, one of the most prevalent crimes facing our society. As a founding member of Stop Scams UK, we embrace the opportunity to partner with technology and telecommunications sectors, regulatory agencies, the government, and law enforcement to combat this issue.”