Tide Logo
Tide Logo
Tide Logo
Tide Logo

Stay safe from impersonation scams

Impersonation scams are both common and very dangerous.

They often involve a scammer pretending to be an organisation such as HMRC, energy suppliers, or your bank, and then using the organisation's authority to make demands of you.

Emergency fraud support

Reach our dedicated team 24/7

Call 159

If you're in the UK

Message in-app

Tap the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud

How impersonation scams often work

  1. The scammer contacts the target, having identified them by their personal information

  2. The scammer impersonates a person or organisation, such as a family member, HMRC, the police or their bank

  3. The target sends money or personal information, believing the scammer's request to be legitimate

How to protect yourself from impersonation scams

1. When someone contacts you

Don't trust contact details

Scammers can spoof real phone numbers and email addresses.

Never trust someone who has contacted you just because they're using legitimate contact details.

Verify their identity

Legitimate organisations have ways of verifying their identity.

At Tide, we always verify our identity in your Tide app when we call you.

Stop the conversation

If you don't trust who's calling you 100%, end the conversation.

Then contact the person or organisation yourself through their known or public contact details.

2. When someone makes demands

Don't make immediate payments

Scammers could pose as HMRC and threaten a penalty if you don't pay them immediately, or pose as a bank and say you need to urgently move your money to a 'safe account'.

Real organisations never pressure you. You'll always have time to check, and Tide will never ask you to move your money to a 'safe account'.

Don't click links or scan QR codes

Scammers can hide dangerous software in links and QR codes. By clicking on them, you could open your device up to a cyber attack.

If the person needs you to click a link, ask them to instead help you navigate to the page through a search engine on your own device instead.

Don't share personal information

While it's normal for certain information to be requested, there are things you should never share.

A real organisation will never ask you to tell their staff any one-time passcodes or verification codes. At Tide, we never ask for your full card information, your card's security code, or your account balance.

A bank impersonation scam in action

This quick video shows how a bank impersonation scam might happen, so you can be prepared in case you're ever contacted by a scammer.

What to do if you've been (or suspect you've been) targeted

  1. Report it to Tide immediately, by calling 159 from the UK, or tapping the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud in your Tide app. Both options are available 24/7

  2. Apply for reimbursement of your lost capital. You may be eligible to your money reimbursed

  3. Find victim support groups. There are many services set up to help people through the difficulties of being defrauded.

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Tide Platform Limited (Tide) designs and operates the Tide website and app. Tide is not a bank. Tide is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 under firm reference number 900843 for the issuing of electronic money and the provision of payment initiation services and account information services under the Payment Services Regulations 2017. Tide is also authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its credit and insurance broking activities (firm reference 718743). Tide is incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 09595646 and registered office at 4th Floor The Featherstone Building, 66 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AL. Tide offers bank accounts powered by ClearBank® Ltd (ClearBank) (account sort code is 04-06-05). ClearBank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 754568. Eligible deposits with ClearBank are protected up to a total of £120,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. For further information visit Home. ClearBank Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number: 754568). Registered Address: ClearBank, Level 27, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, United Kingdom, EC2A 2EW. Eligible deposits held in the Tide Business Current Account (powered by ClearBank) are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (“FSCS”) subject to eligibility. All eligible deposits at the same bank are aggregated to determine the coverage level for each depositor up to £120,000, therefore if you have any other product/services with ClearBank these will be aggregated. To find out more and to check your eligibility please visit: About us . Some of Tide’s members also hold e-money accounts powered by PrePay Technologies Limited (PPT) (account sort code is 23-69-72). PPT is an electronic money institution authorised by the FCA under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 under firm reference number 900010 for the issuing of electronic money. PPT holds an amount equivalent to the money in Tide current accounts in a safeguarding account which gives members protection against PPT’ insolvency. Tide Cards may be issued by both Tide and PPT, who are licensed by Mastercard International for the issuance of cards. The issuer of your Tide card will be identified on your monthly card statement. Tide Capital Limited is an appointed representative of P1 Investment Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 752005 to carry out such regulated activities as are involved in the provision of Tide Investment Account. Seccl Custody Limited is the custodian of assets held in Tide Investment Account and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 793200) and registered in England and Wales under No. 10430958. Registered office 20 Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JW. Tide, the Tide logo, the Swell, and Do Less Banking are trademarks and trade names of Tide Platform Limited, and may not be used or reproduced without the consent of the owner.