HSBC UK, Metro Bank and first direct have joined Stop Scams UK’s 159 short code phone service where its customers can contact 159 if they receive a suspicious call about finance.
The three companies’ 18.5 million UK customers will now benefit from the 159 service and over 160,000 calls have already been made since its launch in September 2021.
The expansion of the service follows the recent upgrade of the service in April to include the Co-operative Bank, Nationwide Building and TSB.
With the cost of living crisis making fraud and scams worse, the expansion of 159 will help speed up Stop Scams UK’s future development.
It plans to launch a new Intelligent Voice Response (IVR) system to better route calls, streamline the call process and provide a better service to users.
Stop Scams UK chair Ruth Evans said: “I am delighted to see the rapid expansion in the reach and capacity of 159 this year.
“It is fantastic that HSBC UK, first direct and Metro Bank have joined 159. Together they represent an important part of the UK market, allowing 159 to help protect more people from harm.
“The rapidly growing use of 159 since its launch clearly demonstrates both its value and need. It is good to see the message getting through, that if you receive an unexpected or suspicious call on a financial matter: stop, hang up and call 159.”
HSBC UK’s Head of Fraud David Callington said: ”This evolving technology and usage of the 159 hotline will help make it even simpler for people to contact us if they have fallen victim to a scam.
“While we have experienced teams looking for signs of fraud, people can also help themselves by taking note of fraud warnings when making payments, and keeping abreast of the latest scam warnings on our website or through our new Fraud and Cyber Awareness app (on both Android and iOS).”
