Helping you stay safe online
HSBC aims to ensure your money is always kept safe from fraud, and we want you to be aware of the different ways fraudsters may try to steal your money.
How do fraudsters operate?
Fraudsters exploit human nature – behaviours that come naturally to us. Key to this is the manipulation of trust - gaining a target's trust and getting them to disclose information that should be kept secure.
Common fraud methods
- Vishing
- Phishing
- Smishing
- Computer takeover (remote access takeover)
How to protect yourself
HSBC has extensive fraud detection systems to ensure your money is kept safe from fraud. To complement this, we also want to tell you about the different ways fraudsters try to steal your information or money.
Be vigilant – warning signs to look out for
Fraudsters usually contact their targets via telephone (Vishing), emails (Phishing) or SMS (Smishing), pretending to be individuals in positions of trust, such as bank staff, representatives of telecoms or utility companies, or even the police. Having gained their target's trust, they then request sensitive information or items, which allow them access to their target's bank accounts - things your bank would never request themselves including, but not limited to:
- Personal information
- Your PIN
- Credit or debit cards, cheque books or cash
- Online Banking codes or passwords
- Transfer of funds to a different account for 'safekeeping'