Financial guru Martin Lewis is urging every bank customer in the UK to commit a simple three-digit number to memory in a major new push to combat fraud.
The Essential Defence Against Scammers
The Money Saving Expert is championing the number 159 as a direct and secure line to your bank. The initiative aims to drastically reduce the number of people tricked by sophisticated impersonation scams.
Lewis explained the simple but effective process in a video shared on X, formerly Twitter. "If you get a call from your bank, you're not sure it's really them, they're asking for personal details, you're a little bit worried," he said. "Just say 'I'm going to call you back via your switchboard,' hang up, and dial 159."
How the 159 Service Protects You
This service, operated by StopScamsUK, eliminates the hassle and danger of searching for a bank's contact number online, where fake details can lurk. When you call 159, an operator will ask which bank you need and connect you directly to its legitimate switchboard.
A key security feature is that the 159 number cannot be spoofed. This means scammers cannot manipulate their caller ID to make it appear they are calling from this number, giving you absolute confidence you are speaking to the real bank.
The scheme, launched in 2021, has already proven its worth, having received over 800,000 calls from vigilant customers.
Widespread Banking Support
The service boasts extensive coverage, currently including 21 major banking and building society brands. This represents an estimated 99% of the UK market, ensuring almost every customer can use it.
Participating institutions include:
- Bank of Scotland
- Barclays
- HSBC
- Halifax
- Lloyds Bank
- Monzo
- Nationwide
- NatWest
- Revolut
- Santander
StopScamsUK states that the hotline is designed to interrupt the scam "journey" at the critical moment when a person is most vulnerable to being manipulated into making a payment. The service also provides connections to several major telephone providers, including BT, O2, Sky, and Vodafone.
