People in Guernsey are being urged to stay on guard against telephone fraudsters impersonating Revolut, despite Guernsey so far escaping the massive scam wave hitting Jersey.
Police in Jersey recently revealed that 75% of all reported scams over a single month involved Revolut accounts, with victims losing a combined £180,000 in a few weeks.
Police here said they haven’t seen a similar spike in official criminal reports, though officers warned islanders not to get complacent.
However, data privacy bosses warn that fraudsters are actively targeting local account holders.
The Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) confirmed an uptick in telephone scams spoofing the popular digital banking app across the Channel Islands.
Local targets
Express is aware of at least two people targeted in Guernsey by scammers attempting to gain access to their Revolut accounts.
One local woman described receiving multiple early morning calls from an anonymous Google Meet account – with the email address helplian709 [at] gmail.com.
“The guy said his name was Richard Bell and that he was calling from Revolut,” they said.
As she didn’t have a Revolut card, she immediately knew it was a scam and challenged the fraudster directly.
“It is an absolute scam so if you have the same call, just end it and under no circumstances give them any information,” she added.
Another Guernsey woman revealed her sister was targeted just days earlier, only avoiding financial loss by questioning the caller before cancelling her card immediately.
‘Pause. Check. Protect’
Fraudsters typically pretend to be from a bank’s fraud team or Revolut support, claiming an account is at risk to pressure victims into handing over security details.
Guernsey’s Data Protection Commissioner Brent Homan said: “Scammers are increasingly impersonating trusted organisations and creating a false sense of urgency.”
“Our message remains the same: Pause. Check. Protect,” Mr Homan said.
He added that islanders can protect their data rights and avoid significant financial harm simply by exercising vigilance.
Police advise caution
Despite Guernsey escaping the high volume of losses recorded across the water, authorities stressed that islanders must remain cautious.
A spokesperson said: “Guernsey Police would always encourage islanders to be cautious of scammers or cold callers, and think twice before sending money to someone online, especially if they are not known to you.”
Guernsey Police confirmed that anyone who falls victim to a scam should contact officers directly on 01481 222 222 or report it to Action Fraud.
Fraud can affect anyone so keep these following tips in mind:
Pause. Check. Protect.
The ODPA advised people to follow these simple rules.
Pause
- Do not feel rushed into making a decision.
- Be wary of unexpected calls claiming there is an urgent problem with your account.
- Scammers rely on fear and urgency to pressure people into acting quickly.
Check
- Verify who is contacting you.
- Do not rely on contact details provided by the caller.
- End the call and contact the organisation through a trusted phone number, website or app.
- If in doubt, speak to someone you trust before taking action.
Protect
- Never share passwords, PINs, one-time passcodes or security verification codes.
- Be careful when approving transactions or security changes.
- Enable multi-factor authentication wherever available.
- Regularly review security settings on your financial accounts and devices.
