How to Report Fraud or a Scam

If you think you might be a victim of fraud or suspect fraudulent activity taking place on your Unity Trust Bank account, let us know as soon as you can.

Reporting to Unity
1. You can report this via our Fraud form, available online here  or to our 24/7 dedicated fraud line, where, during working hours^, you’ll be put through to a member of our customer service team. The freephone number is 0808 196 8420.

2. If your business has a Relationship Manager you can also choose to report it directly to them, however if you’re unable to get hold of them, please don’t delay reporting this, complete the online Fraud form or call our 24/7 fraud line.

National reporting
If your business is located in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, please also complete an online report with Action Fraud who are the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. If the affected business is in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101*.

*To reach Police Scotland’s financial fraud team on 101 you must be calling from Scotland.

If your concern relates to an account or product you have with Unity, you must report this to us. We would only need you to contact the police via their fraud teams detailed on this page. Click here to learn more.

If the fraudulent activity is linked to another crime, such as bag theft, please ensure you protect your account/service by contacting Unity via the methods in the link above, and the police service via their recommended channels. Typically the police recommend contacting your local station, reporting online or calling 101. If in doubt please contact Unity and we’ll assist you where we can.

There are many types of fraud, but some of the most common include phishing scams, identity theft, investment scams, advance-fee scams and cloned websites. They can come in many forms, including phone calls, emails, texts, or even fake websites. A common type of bank transfer scam is also known as Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud. You can read about the different types of fraud on our Protect your Organisation from Frauds and Scams page.

This type of Bank Transfer Authorised Push Payment scam occurs when you’re tricked into authorising a payment to a fraudulent account. Scammers might impersonate legitimate organisations (like your bank, utility company, or even a friend) and create a sense of urgency or pressure to make a payment. They could also send fake invoices that appear real. You can learn all about APP fraud and how to spot it in our APP fraud blog.

If you suspect fraudulent activity in relation to a product you hold with Unity, please report this to us as soon as possible. Click here to see our scam and fraud reporting process.

Here are some general tips:

• Be wary of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or text messages.
• Never give out your personal or financial information to someone you don’t know and trust.
• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
• Regularly monitor your bank statements and credit reports for suspicious activity.
• Use strong passwords and keep them confidential.
• Change passwords regularly (cybersecurity experts recommend every 3 months) or immediately if there is a risk they have been compromised.
• Set up additional authorisation where possible, such as dual authorisation for your Unity account and two-factor authentication (2FA) where available.

For more information you can visit our security page, and browse the additional topics towards the foot of this page.

Cheque books- If your cheque book or any cheques are lost or stolen, or have been used by someone else, please tell us immediately by telephoning Unity on 0345 140 1000^.

Purchasing card – If your Purchasing card is lost or stolen, please contact Lloyds Bank immediately on their 24-hour freephone number, 0800 096 4496† selecting option 1.
You do not need to report this to Unity.

†Calls may be monitored or recorded to ensure your instructions have been carried out correctly and to improve quality of service.

If someone tricks you into downloading software that gives them control over your device or your bank account, we recommend that you disconnect or end the session immediately. There’s usually a button in the software that lets you do this. If you can’t find one, turn off your device and disconnect your wi-fi. Then contact us immediately using an alternative secure or unaffected method.

The ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ campaign led by the Home Office, offers some useful advice in the event your account is accessed and when you should change your password, click Stop! Think Fraud to learn more.

Every claim will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. It’s important you keep a record of everything that has happened leading up to the scam, and share as much information as you can when you get in touch. We’ll consider everything you share with us that’s relevant to your claim. In the case of a bank transfer scam (APP Fraud), we’ll also review any information available from the receiving Payment Service Provider (PSP) or, where relevant, a third party such as the police.

If you’ve been a victim of a bank transfer scam and fall under the category of an individual, micro-enterprise or charity, we’d recommend familiarising yourself with the reimbursement requirement policy below that comes into force on 7th October 2024.