SMS scams, commonly known as ‘smishing’ have been around for a while, but it looks like they’re getting more sophisticated. Have you received one like this?
12/10/2020: Fake Halifax texts increase
We’ve noticed a sharp rise in the number of people reporting fake Halifax SMS texts to us in the last few weeks. Here’s a new example:
Following the link will take you through to a fake website which will attempt to steal your username and password:
If you receive a suspicious text message from Halifax, forward it to its fraud team on security@halifax.co.uk
Not sure if the message is genuine? Contact Halifax via its official channels.
And, if you do think you may have given sensitive information to scammers, let the bank know immediately.
17/07/2019: Fake SMS warning
I’m not a Halifax customer, but when I woke up and saw this text one morning the other week I did have to stop and think about my accounts for a second – what’s going on here?
It is, of course, a scam SMS, but it’s one that can grab your attention, and one definitely worth warning others about.
We’ve covered these ‘smishing’ scams before – most recently last year with examples purporting to be from Santander, Natwest, and another from Halifax.
But in none of the examples from our story was a name used to really grab your attention. That’s what makes this one stand out and, in my opinion, pose more of a threat to vulnerable people.
These smishing texts are designed to convince you to hand over your personal details, pay money or download a virus.
We’ve made Halifax aware of this scam SMS. We’ll be publishing its response here as soon as we receive it.
How to deal with scam text messages
The personal data aspect to this one, however small, is a concern, but I’m not overly worried about how this information was accessed.
After all, my full name is out there online on a variety of different platforms, including this one! But the way in which it’s been tied to my personal phone number and used in a scam attempt is slightly more disconcerting.
If the same attempt had landed with a more vulnerable person with a Halifax account, a scam like this could well prove successful.
You should always be wary of unsolicited texts. If you’re not sure, get in contact with your bank via the genuine means of contact on its official website – do not respond to the SMS itself if you’re having any doubts.
Tips on how to spot a scam and reporting one are also available on our Consumer Rights pages.
Have you received a scam text like this containing your name? Did it purport to be from Halifax, or was the name of another bank used?
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