Martin Lewis is at it again, sharing another simple but seriously useful money-saving (and money-protecting) tip — and this one could stop you getting scammed out of thousands.
The Money Saving Expert has urged bank customers to remember just three digits: 1-5-9. It’s not a code, but a special phone number you should dial if you ever need to speak to your bank, especially if you’re worried the person calling you might be a fraudster, according to the Independent.
Lewis explained that calling 159 is part of a nationwide scheme by Stop Scams UK. It gives you a direct and safe route to your bank’s customer service line, without having to Google a number or trust a link in a dodgy-looking email or text. That’s where scammers often catch people out.
“This is done as an anti-scam and anti-fraud initiative, so that you can always get through to a legitimate number without having to look it up,” he said. “Just remember ‘159’. It’s done so you can call them both generally but most especially if you get a call from your bank and you’re not sure it’s really them.”
Once you dial 159, you’ll be asked to name the bank you’re trying to reach – either by speaking it or tapping it in on the keypad – and then you’ll be connected to their actual customer service team. No dodgy redirects, no fishing for your details.
And people are listening. Since the service launched in 2021, it’s already received a million calls. But with scam cases soaring, Martin Lewis wants even more people to be aware of it.
His warning couldn’t come at a better time. Fraud is on the rise – and fast. In 2024 alone, there was a 33% increase in scams across England and Wales. That’s a jump from about 3 million reported cases the year before to a massive 4.1 million now, according to official crime stats.
If you think you’ve been caught out, Lewis’s site has a clear plan: stop all contact with the scammer immediately, then call 159 if you’ve shared your bank or card details. From there, report the loss to your bank, ask to cancel any pending payments, and head to the Action Fraud website to log the scam.
If you paid by credit card and the item cost over £100, check if you can claim the money back under Section 75. It’s a tiny number to remember, but it could make a massive difference. Just 159. Pop it in your phone now – just in case.
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