It has come to our attention that fraudsters have sent members of the public emails posing as PSR staff asking for money. This is a scam.
We would never ask a consumer for money or personal information like bank account details or internet banking passwords.
How the scam works
Scammers may contact you by email, post or a phone call and claim to be from the PSR, or use the name of an employee, to give the impression that the communication is genuine. Communications may even contain email addresses and logos that seem authentic.
You might be told you are entitled to a sum of money and that we need your bank account details to make the payment. You may also be told that you are owed money but you need to pay a fee to release it. These are just a few of the ways criminals will use to gain access to your money.
Remember – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Protect yourself
Keep in mind that we NEVER contact members of the public asking for money or bank account details.
• Check who you’re talking to. If someone claiming to be from your bank, the PSR or another financial regulator like the FCA contacts you out of the blue and asks for money, hang up the phone and get in touch with them directly using their publicly listed contact details.
• Look a little closer. There may be details in the email, letter or phone call that indicate it is not from us, such as it listing an overseas contact phone number or an email address from a hotmail or gmail account. All PSR email addresses end with @psr.org.uk. Scam emails and letters also often contain spelling mistakes and poor grammar.
• Take five. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into sending money or revealing your personal details. Fraudsters will try to panic you into sending them funds by claiming your account is at risk or that you’ll lose money if you don’t act now. Trustworthy organisations don’t do this. Take a deep breath and talk about your concerns with a friend or family member.
• Say no. No need to be polite, just hang up the phone or end the interaction.
If you receive a suspicious email, call or message via social media from the PSR asking you for money please contact us at contactus@psr.org.uk immediately.
You may also want to contact Action Fraud - www.actionfraud.police.uk – particularly if you think you have already been a victim so you can make a report.
You should also call your bank immediately to let them know what has happened so they can protect your account and attempt to recover the money.