Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds Bank, comments on the rise in impersonation scams, and the increase in fraudsters pretending to be a police officer or bank staff.

New Lloyds Bank data shows that impersonation scams have risen 13% over the past year.

Scammers frequently impersonate police officers, bank staff and HMRC, although they may also pretend to be from a large company like Amazon.

An impersonation scam is where a fraudster convinces their victim to make a payment, or give personal or financial details, by pretending to be someone else.

While cases have risen, data shows the average amount lost in police and bank impersonation scams has decreased 31% over the past year, with victims losing on average £5,318, compared to over £7,700 in the previous year.

Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds Bank, said:

Impersonation scams are cruel and clever, with fraudsters taking advantage of human nature – whether that be fear, trust or a desire to help someone out.

While your bank is always working hard to keep your money safe, it’s important people take steps to protect themselves and be really wary of unexpected calls or out of the blue requests for help. If something doesn’t seem right, take a step back and verify who you are actually speaking to.  Remember, a genuine family member, friend or colleague wouldn’t mind you taking steps to stay safe and your bank will never ask you to move money to a ‘safe account’.

Full release: Lloyds Bank issues warning on impersonation scams as they rise 13%

Media contact: Jessica Sena, Lloyds Banking Group, 078 6867 4102 / Jessica.Sena@lloydsbanking.com