Safe account scam | CC Recovery Ltd

How the scam works

Safe account scams create panic: your account has been compromised and you must act now. The caller may already know personal details and may spoof a real phone number. Banks and the police will never ask you to move money to protect it.

1
An urgent warning

You get a call, text or email saying your account has been compromised. The number may look like your bank’s real number.
2
Building credibility

The caller knows some of your details, sounds professional and may pass you to a “colleague” or “police officer” to make it more convincing.
3
The safe account

You are told to move your money to a new “safe” account in your name to protect it, and coached on what to say if the bank asks.
4
Emptied

The money goes straight to the scammer. Sometimes you are asked to move savings or take out a loan too.

An example of how it happens

A pensioner received a call from someone who knew her address and bank. They said a fraudster was using her account and that she should move her savings to a new account “in her name”. She made three transfers in one afternoon.

Illustrative example based on common cases, not a real client.

Warning signs

An unexpected call, text or email saying your account is at risk
Being told to move money urgently to a new account
Being told not to tell bank staff the real reason for the payment
A caller who knows some of your details and sounds official
A phone number that appears to be your bank's real number

How to protect yourself

Your bank or the police will never ask you to move money to keep it safe
Hang up and call your bank on the number on your card, ideally from another phone
Don’t trust caller ID: numbers can be faked
Never follow instructions to mislead bank staff about a payment

Can you get your money back?

Often, yes. It depends mainly on how you paid. These are the routes that usually apply to this type of scam.

Bank transfer (Faster Payments or CHAPS)

Since 7 October 2024, UK banks must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment fraud, up to £85,000 per claim, if it is reported within 13 months. Earlier payments may fall under the voluntary CRM Code or the bank’s duty of care.
How the money-back rules work
A payment you didn’t make

If you didn’t authorise a payment, your bank should normally refund it promptly, unless it can show you acted fraudulently or with gross negligence. Report it as soon as you notice.

A general guide to UK rules. Every case depends on its facts, and nobody can guarantee an outcome. Check your bank.

If it has just happened

Speed matters. These steps protect you and give your bank the best chance to act.

Call your bank first, using the number on your card or its official website. Do not use numbers given to you by the caller or in a message.

A woman on the phone to her bank, holding her card and looking at her laptop.

Contact your bank now
Call the number on the back of your card or on your bank's official website. Tell them it is fraud. The sooner they know, the better the chance of stopping or tracing payments.
Stop further payments
Do not send any more money, even if you are promised a refund, a release fee or a withdrawal. Stop contact with the scammer.
Secure your accounts
Change passwords for your email and banking, remove any remote-access apps, and turn on two-step verification.
Report it
Report the crime to the police or your national fraud reporting service and keep the reference number.
Keep the evidence
Save messages, emails, screenshots, website addresses, wallet addresses and statements showing every payment.

A case handler wearing a headset, listening to a caller and taking notes.

How we can help

We build the case, you follow every step

We review what happened for free, help you gather the evidence, and pursue a complaint with your bank, escalating to the ombudsman if needed. You can also claim for free yourself.

Start your case See our process

Questions about this type of scam

I was told to lie to my bank. Does that ruin my claim?

Not necessarily. Coaching victims to mislead their bank is part of this scam, and the rules recognise that.

The call came from my bank’s real number. How?

Criminals can make a call appear to come from any number, a technique called spoofing.

Is this scam usually refunded?

Safe account scams are a clear example of authorised push payment fraud, and many are reimbursed, but every case depends on its facts.

Can you guarantee I will get my money back?

No. Nobody can honestly guarantee a recovery. Outcomes depend on how the payments were made, what your bank did, the rules that apply and the evidence available. Be wary of anyone who promises a guaranteed result.

Do I have to use a company to make a claim?

No. You can complain to your bank yourself for free and, if needed, escalate to the ombudsman yourself. Our Claim it yourself guide explains how. Some people prefer help with the evidence and the process, and that is what we offer.

What does it cost?

Our fees are set out in full on the Our fees page before you sign anything. You will never be asked to pay a "release fee", a "tax" or anything in cryptocurrency to receive recovered money.

How long does it take?

It varies. Banks usually respond to a complaint within a few weeks. If a case goes to the ombudsman, it can take several months. Your portal shows each step as it happens.

All questions