There are many types of ways fraudsters will try to gain access to an account or private information.
These are the most common types of fraud you should watch out for 🔍:
New account fraud
New account fraud
This is where a fraudster will take out an account in another person’s name.
Usually, the fraudster will have access to a person's personal information and/or bank details.
If you suspect new account fraud, please contact us.
Account takeover fraud
Account takeover fraud
This is where a fraudster will gain access to a person’s personal information in order take control of an account.
If you suspect someone has accessed your account, please contact us.
SIM swap fraud
SIM swap fraud
This is where a fraudster will gain access to a customer’s phone number by swapping the account to a different SIM card. They will then be able to intercept calls and messages intended for you.
If your SIM card suddenly stops working and you're not sure why, please contact us.
Porting fraud
Porting fraud
Porting fraud is where a fraudster will attempt to transfer your number from SMARTY to another network to gain control of your phone number.
If you receive a text about your number being ported without your knowledge, please contact us as soon as possible.
Call divert fraud
Call divert fraud
This is where a fraudster will use your personal information to place a call divert on your phone so that any inbound calls are diverted to them instead.
If you suspect a divert has been placed on your phone without your permission, please contact us.
How to report fraud 👮♀️
If you think you've been a victim of fraudulent activity, you should report it as soon as possible. Or if you think someone has accessed your SMARTY account or set up a SMARTY account in your name or at your home address without your permission, please let us know.
Steps you can take if you think you've been a victim of fraud:
1. Gather all the information you have about your issue ✍
It’s important to have all the information about the issue to hand.
Include any mobile or account numbers you might have received texts, emails, letters or calls about. And check if any money’s been taken from your bank account without your permission.
2. If money has been taken from your account without your permission, contact your bank immediately 📞
They’ll investigate and stop further unauthorised payments from being taken. You can dial 159 to be connected securely to most UK banks.
3. Change your online passwords 🔒
You should change the password for your SMARTY account and any other online accounts, such as online banking or email.
Remember to use a strong password that’s at least 12 characters long and has a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
4. Register your issue with Action Fraud 💻
Report what’s happened to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre. This will ensure that the correct crime-reporting procedures are being followed.
They’ll pass on all fraud cases to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and give you an NFIB reference number.
Action Fraud will then either refer your report to your local police force for investigation or use your case to build a national intelligence picture if no action can be taken.
You can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at actionfraud.police.uk.
Stop! Think Fraud 🤚
Our parent company, Three, is an official partner of the Stop! Think Fraud national campaign.
The campaign has been developed to streamline and simplify anti-fraud messaging to help protect the British public against fraud.
The campaign aims to:
Educate the public on different types and the tactics that might be used against them.
Encourage them to take a moment to Stop! Think Fraud when they come into contact with potential fraud, then taking a moment to consider and look into it, before making payments or providing personal details.
Empower them by giving them the tools and knowledge to recognise fraudulent behaviour and take action to stop and prevent it.