Top tips to protect yourself from fraud
Follow our simple tips to keep your money and personal info safe.
Look after your personal information
- Keep valuable documents such as your passport and driving licence in a safe place.Keep valuable documents such as your passport and driving licence in a safe place.
- Shred letters and statements that include your name, address, date of birth, passwords or account information.Shred letters and statements that include your name, address, date of birth, passwords or account information.
- Keep all Tesco Bank security details secret (your username, security number, password and any one-time passcodes you receive). These are the details that keep your Online Banking account, Your Insurance Account and your Mobile Banking App secure.Keep all Tesco Bank security details secret (your username, security number, password and any one-time passcodes you receive). These are the details that keep your Online Banking account, Your Insurance Account and your Mobile Banking App secure.
- Check your statements regularly. If you don't recognise certain transactions, let us know.Check your statements regularly. If you don't recognise certain transactions, let us know.
- Keep an eye on your credit rating - agencies like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion all offer free credit reports. It may help you spot a fraudster using your identity to apply for accounts in your name.Keep an eye on your credit rating - agencies like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion all offer free credit reports. It may help you spot a fraudster using your identity to apply for accounts in your name.
- Be aware of your surroundings when accessing your accounts, especially at cash machines and on your phone.Be aware of your surroundings when accessing your accounts, especially at cash machines and on your phone.
Be one step ahead with passwords
- Long passwords are safer - a minimum of eight characters.Long passwords are safer - a minimum of eight characters.
- Avoid common words or anything that can be easily found out, such as your date of birth, family names or nicknames.Avoid common words or anything that can be easily found out, such as your date of birth, family names or nicknames.
- Use a mix of letters, numbers and special characters.Use a mix of letters, numbers and special characters.
- Never use the same password for multiple accounts.Never use the same password for multiple accounts.
- Don't share your passwords or write them down where they can be found easily.Don't share your passwords or write them down where they can be found easily.
- Get into a routine of changing your passwords fairly regularly.Get into a routine of changing your passwords fairly regularly.
Wise up to computer safety
- Never give unknown people or companies remote access to your computer - even if they say they’re the police or calling from your bank. We’ll never ask you for remote access to your computer.Never give unknown people or companies remote access to your computer - even if they say they’re the police or calling from your bank. We’ll never ask you for remote access to your computer.
- Don’t sign up for a computer maintenance or warranty program that you don’t trust.Don’t sign up for a computer maintenance or warranty program that you don’t trust.
- If you get an unexpected pop-up, phone call, spam email or other ‘urgent’ message about problems with your computer, stop and take a moment to think about what’s being said. Don’t click on any links. Find more tips on spotting a scam.If you get an unexpected pop-up, phone call, spam email or other ‘urgent’ message about problems with your computer, stop and take a moment to think about what’s being said. Don’t click on any links. Find more tips on spotting a scam.
- Never share passwords or give control of your computer to anyone who contacts you on the phone, by text, or via email.Never share passwords or give control of your computer to anyone who contacts you on the phone, by text, or via email.
- If you’re ever concerned about your computer, call your security software company, only using the phone number on their website, software packaging or a receipt.If you’re ever concerned about your computer, call your security software company, only using the phone number on their website, software packaging or a receipt.
Maximise your mobile security
- Download software updates to stay up to date with security settings. Only use the official app store to get apps for your device.Download software updates to stay up to date with security settings. Only use the official app store to get apps for your device.
- Use the security features of your device to make it as secure as possible. Strong passwords, pattern lock and fingerprints are all good ways to do this.Use the security features of your device to make it as secure as possible. Strong passwords, pattern lock and fingerprints are all good ways to do this.
- Don’t store passwords, logins or PINs on any device.Don’t store passwords, logins or PINs on any device.
- When you use public wi-fi, make sure it tells you that the connection is secure. If it’s not, you could be using a fake wi-fi hotspot, which means your personal info could be visible to others.When you use public wi-fi, make sure it tells you that the connection is secure. If it’s not, you could be using a fake wi-fi hotspot, which means your personal info could be visible to others.
- Use two-factor authentication (2FA) when available to give you extra protection. This requires two methods to verify your identity and protect your personal information. Look out for the option to set this up on any personal apps.Use two-factor authentication (2FA) when available to give you extra protection. This requires two methods to verify your identity and protect your personal information. Look out for the option to set this up on any personal apps.
Take care on social media
- Use a different password for each of your social media accounts and think about adding additional protection to your accounts like setting up two-factor authentication.Use a different password for each of your social media accounts and think about adding additional protection to your accounts like setting up two-factor authentication.
- Be careful what you share – remember an image could contain your house number, birthday or other personal information.Be careful what you share – remember an image could contain your house number, birthday or other personal information.
- Get familiar with the privacy settings and features of the social media channels you use. Use your privacy settings to control who sees what you post or who can see your profile.Get familiar with the privacy settings and features of the social media channels you use. Use your privacy settings to control who sees what you post or who can see your profile.
- If you have social media apps on your phone, make sure you have password, pattern, facial recognition or fingerprint protection.If you have social media apps on your phone, make sure you have password, pattern, facial recognition or fingerprint protection.
- Think twice about who you’re speaking to. If you don't know a person, or think they might be impersonating someone you know, avoid the conversation.Think twice about who you’re speaking to. If you don't know a person, or think they might be impersonating someone you know, avoid the conversation.
- Be careful with links in messages. Look out for unusual language or content and if something looks odd, contact the sender using a different method to check it's really them.Be careful with links in messages. Look out for unusual language or content and if something looks odd, contact the sender using a different method to check it's really them.
- If you’re using a shared or public computer, remember to log out when you’ve finished.If you’re using a shared or public computer, remember to log out when you’ve finished.
- Take a look at our guide to shopping safely online.
Keep in mind
- We'll never contact you by telephone, text or email asking for full passwords or security details.We'll never contact you by telephone, text or email asking for full passwords or security details.
- We won't ask you to log in to reset security either.We won't ask you to log in to reset security either.
- We’ll never call to ask you for your one-time passcode sent by text to authorise a payment online and we won’t send you a one-time passcode to authorise a refund.We’ll never call to ask you for your one-time passcode sent by text to authorise a payment online and we won’t send you a one-time passcode to authorise a refund.
- We’ll never ask you to download additional apps or software to allow access to your device, such as TeamViewer.We’ll never ask you to download additional apps or software to allow access to your device, such as TeamViewer.
If you do receive a call from someone claiming to be from Tesco Bank and you're not sure it’s us, hang up and call us back on a trusted number. If possible, use a different phone to call us back, but if you have to use the same phone, wait at least 10 minutes before making the call.
