Suspicious emails, texts and calls
Increasingly, scammers are using emails (phishing), texts (smishing) and calls (vishing) to trick you into handing over your personal information, clicking a dodgy link or opening a compromising attachment. Once the scammers have your details, they can use them to steal your identity and money.
Scammers usually trick their victims by pretending to be from a company you know or trust, like your bank, HMRC or Royal Mail.
It’s good to remember that a legitimate company would never ask you to provide personal or financial information such as your password, account number, card details or PIN via email, text or over the phone.
Key warning signs for these types of scams
These scams can be difficult to spot, because scammers have become so good at impersonating trustworthy organisations. But here are some things you should look out for:
You receive an unexpected email, text or call asking for your personal information, such as your account number, sort code or password.
The message sounds urgent, using phrases like ‘your account has been compromised’ or ‘you must act now’.
The message contains spelling or grammar errors.
The message is from an unknown sender or a sender that you don’t recognise.
The message contains a suspicious link or attachment.
How to avoid scams from suspicious emails, texts and calls
The best way to avoid these types of scams is to always stay vigilant. To do this:
Never give out your personal information to anyone you don’t know or trust.
Verify the sender’s identity before responding to an email, text or call.
Use strong, unique passwords and change them regularly.
Keep your computer, mobile and tablet up to date with the latest security updates.
If you’ve received a suspicious email, text or call from someone claiming to be from Zopa, you should contact us directly using the details on our website to verify whether the message you received was legitimate.
Just so you know, Zopa would never ask you to download a third-party app or charge you a processing fee for an application. We’re not associated or affiliated with any investment or cryptocurrency companies.
If you’re concerned about a suspicious message you’ve received, please contact us and report it to the National Cyber Security Centre and Action Fraud.
How to report a scam
If you think you might have been a victim of a scam or notice a suspicious transaction on your Zopa account, please get in touch.
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Start chatChat is the quickest way to get in touch with us.
Other scams to be aware of
Investment and crypto scams
Investment and crypto scams are when a scammer encourages you to give them money to invest on your behalf.
The investment opportunity turns out to be fake and the scammer disappears with your money.
Scammers may also persuade you to take out a loan to fund this so-called investment.
Learn moreSocial media scams
There a few different types of social media scams, including phishing, which is when a scammer messages you pretending to be someone you know or a company you trust to get personal information or money from you.
Other types of social media scams include fake advertisements and romance scams.
Learn moreRomance Scams
Romance scams are when a scammer befriends you using a fake profile. They build a relationship with you over the course of weeks or months before convincing you to give them money.
Scammers use a range of tactics to gain your trust, such as sending gifts, offering compliments or sharing personal stories.
Learn moreHow Zopa protects you and your money from fraudsters
Read about the latest scams, how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you've been a victim of fraud.
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