Phishing Email
Bank Scam Text
Actual scam email — annotated specimen
From
Mobile Text Message
Subject
Bank Scam Text
Date
13 May 2026, 14:16 UTC
A scam text impersonating Barclays from a spoofed mobile number tells you that a direct debit has been arranged.
" A direct Debit for £450.52 has been set up to XYZ ltd, Do you recognise? Reply N to speak to fraud team"
It goes on to provide a number to call, which will most likely put you through to a scammer who'll try to get you to reveal your personal and financial information.
Scam texts like this can be reported by forwarding them to 7726.
1 Red Flag — Here's What Gives It Away
- 1. Message out of the blue with no personalised details, delete it or forward to 7726, DO NOT reply
What to do if you get one of these
Any Text or email relating to money that is received out of the blue and is asking you to do something is very likely a scam. Criminal Scammers use your worry/stress to by-pass your normal rational behaviour. If the communication is not suspected then do nothing, if it worries you, call the bank using the number on your debit card, or from within your banking app and ask them, but never reply no matter how much you are worried.