A PILOT scheme has been launched to make it easier to report financial fraud where people call up looking for bank details.
Stop Scams UK encourages people to call 159 if they have been the victim of such a call. To take part, people should hang up from the fraudulent call and then call 159.
The service uses an Intelligent Voice Response system, which it uses to route calls to the appropriate destination.
Participating banks at this stage are Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest, Santander, The Co-operative, Nationwide and TSB.
Since its launch in September last year, 79,000 calls have been made, and the aim is to stop thieves in their tracks. It is estimated that £355million was stolen in the first six months of 2021, by fraudsters asking people to make a payment or transfer money.
If the pilot is successful, it will join 101, 111, or 999 as universal numbers offered by all providers.
