Meet our fraud experts
As part of Fraud Awareness Week, we’ve asked our Risk experts to share their top tips for staying safe from online scammers. These exclusive insights are here to help you protect your finances by spotting scams before it’s too late.
Ben’s top tip: Watch out for pressure tactics
Scammers rely on panic and pressure to make their victims act quickly – without thinking. If you feel pressured to make a decision on the spot, consider it a major red flag.
Take your time to:
Stop – assess the situation
Challenge – what you’re being told
Protect – check with someone you trust or your bank before you part with your money.
Fraudsters count on you trusting them, whether they’re asking for personal information or money. So, remember, if you’ve received unsolicited contact, it may be a scam. Your bank will never ask you to move money to a “safe account.” If there’s an issue, banks can simply freeze your account. If in doubt, hang up and call your bank directly.
Quick tip: Dial 159
If something feels off, hang up and dial 159. It’s a direct and secure way to connect with many banks. Remember, scammers can’t fake this service, and 159 will never call you first. Not all banks are part of this service, you can find out more here.
For concerns specific to your Hodge account, our team will always be happy to help. Reach out if you’re unsure – it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Symon’s top tip: Stop, think and take five
Fraudsters are smart, sophisticated, and know how to play on emotions. My advice, never act unless you’re 100% certain it’s legitimate. If you’ve any uncertainty, the best thing to do is to stop and take five minutes to reevaluate. Reassess the email or text, hang up the phone. It can be all you need to spot if it’s a financial scam.
Learn more at Take Five to Stop Fraud, a national campaign offering straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud.
Emma’s top tip: Report anything suspicious
If you receive a suspicious message, call, or email claiming to be from Hodge—or if you think you’ve been a victim of fraud—our dedicated team is here to help.
Contact us if you:
- Get a suspicious communication from ‘Hodge’
- Spot activity on an account you didn’t apply for
- Think you’ve been scammed.
You can email or call us 029 2274 0898
If we miss your call, leave a voicemail with your name, contact number and a brief explanation and we’ll call you back promptly.
Need more help?
Online banking is safe and convenient when you take the right precautions. There are so many benefits to going online, and as long as you know what to be wary of, you can keep scammers at bay most of the time.
Visit our Fraud and Scams hub for more top tips and resources to keep your finances secure.