Nationwide warns UK adults in London face rising scam calls, with 57% noting increased frequency and a new app feature to verify genuine calls
UK Adults Receive Two Scam Calls Weekly
UK adults are receiving an average of two scam calls each week, according to new research.
A survey commissioned by Nationwide Building Society found that over half (57 percent) of respondents believe these suspicious calls are becoming more frequent.
More than a quarter (28 percent) admitted they lack confidence in telling a legitimate call from their bank.
New Scam Checker Feature Introduced
To address this issue, Nationwide has introduced a new feature to enhance its “scam checker” service.
This feature allows customers to instantly verify if the call they are on is genuine, using Nationwide’s banking app.
Customers can access this by opening the app, selecting “more,” and then “call checker” to check if they are speaking with Nationwide.
Warnings About Fraudulent Calls
Nationwide warns that fraudsters may ask victims to share personal details, provide security codes, transfer money, or even lie to their bank or building society.
While over half (53 percent) of people said they hang up immediately when they become suspicious about a call, only 29 percent report it to their bank.
Expert Insights
Jim Winters, director of economic crime at Nationwide, stated, “Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and impersonation calls are one of the most common ways they trick people into handing over money.”
He added, “We are programmed to trust people, and when someone uses clever tactics and well-practiced scripts – often putting us under pressure or making us panic – it can be hard to know who to trust.”
Winters concluded, “Our call checker feature gives our customers peace of mind by confirming if a call is genuine or not. It’s a simple and effective step that could prevent someone from becoming the next crime statistic.”
Survey Details
The survey of 2,000 people was conducted by Censuswide in December.
| Statistic | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Adults receiving scam calls weekly | 2 |
| Belief that scam calls are increasing | 57% |
| Lack of confidence in identifying legitimate calls | 28% |
| Hang up when suspicious | 53% |
| Report suspicious calls to bank | 29% |
