Skip to content

suspect_fraud

Suspect fraud?
Call us now

0330 094 3333 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday)

If our lines are closed, scroll down to see what to do.

What you can do straight away

Fraudsters target established businesses every day. We work hard behind the scenes to keep your account secure, but staying alert is one of the most effective ways to protect your business. If something doesn’t seem right, you can act quickly by following these these steps to help secure your account.

feeze_card

Freeze your card

Use the app or online banking:

  1. Log in
  2. Select your Business Rewards Account
  3. Go to cards → freeze card
payments_approval

Turn on payment approvals

Add extra protection for outgoing payments:

  1. Log in
  2. Go to manage account
  3. Switch on payment approvals
money_codes

Hang up on requests for money or codes

If anyone asks you to:

  • Move money
  • Share a one-time password
  • Share a PIN or passcode

Hang up - it’s most likely a scam.
Allica Bank will never ask for your PIN, passcode or password.

Common scams to watch out for

It’s not always easy to spot fraud at first. Fraudsters have become more clever at using tactics to get information from their victims. Here are the scams we see most often and how to stay safe.

What it looks like: A fraudster steals an employee’s login details through email phishing or computer malware, then tries to access your account

Watch out for:

  • Calls claiming to be from Allica Bank
  • Password-reset emails you didn’t request
  • Logins from unfamiliar locations, devices or times
  • Anyone asking for passcodes, one-time codes or security details

Protect your business: Use strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and never share codes with anyone. Report lost or stolen phones and devices as soon as possible.

What it looks like: A supplier emails to say their bank details have changed. The message looks real, but the account isn’t.

Watch out for:

  • Sudden changes to payment instructions
  • Slightly different email addresses or domains
  • Requests to “pay today” or “urgent same-day payment required”

Protect your business: Always call a trusted number to double-check.

What it looks like: Realistic invoices that copy supplier branding and billing patterns to send a convincing fake invoice.

Watch out for:

  • Different or unfamiliar account names
  • Invoices arriving earlier or later than usual
  • Urgent payment requests or threats if you don’t pay immediately

Protect your business: Use two-person checks, PO matching, and compare past invoices.

What it looks like: Emails, texts or calls pretending to be from Allica, HMRC, utilities companies or even the police. They aim to make you panic, click a link or share sensitive information.

Watch out for:

  • Messages asking for personal or banking details
  • Links that don’t match official domains when you hover over them
  • Callers who won’t let you hang up and call back on a trusted number

Protect your business: Never click unexpected links – always go directly to allica.bank. If you receive an unexpected email asking you for details, to click on links or open attachments, report this as phishing immediately.

What it looks like: Fraudsters use stolen card details or compromised accounts to make online purchases or set up subscriptions.

Watch out for:

  • Small “test” transactions you don’t recognise
  • New subscriptions or recurring payments you didn’t set up
  • Sudden international payments or unusual merchants

Protect your business: Enable payment and transaction notifications and review your transactions often. Keep track of who in the business can make payments.

What it looks like: Someone poses as a new client or supplier to trick you into sending goods or refunding money.

Watch out for:

  • Overpayments followed by refund requests
  • Requests to ship goods before payment has cleared
  • Companies with little or no online presence or verifiable details

Protect your business: Verify every new relationship and wait for cleared money.

Expand for more answers +

How to protect your business

See tips below on how to stay on top of fraudsters.

verify_payment

Verify payment requests

  • Be cautious if someone claims bank details have changed
  • Use trusted numbers only
  • Avoid using contact details in emails
take_time

Take your time

  • Fraudsters rely on urgency
  • Pause and double-check anything unusual
details_secure

Keep your details secure

  • Use strong passwords that include a mix of characters, numbers and special characters
  • Use unique passwords across platforms
  • Avoid personal information in passwords
safe_online

Stay safe online

  • Make sure websites are secure (you can do this by looking for https:// and a padlock icon in the web address bar)
  • Keep your software and applications up to date
  • Install anti-malware security
  • Avoid public wifi for banking or accessing sensitive information
cautious_email

Be cautious with emails

  • Don’t click unexpected links
  • Check sender addresses carefully
  • Avoid opening unexpected attachments
train_team

Train your team

  • Share red flags with anyone handling payments
  • Add fraud awareness to onboarding
  • Encourage reporting of anything unusual
monitor_account

Monitor your account

  • Set up payment notifications
  • Review transactions regularly
  • Query suspicious activity straight away

How to protect your business

See tips below on how to stay on top of fraudsters.

Allica_Safe

Real-time transaction monitoring
We use advanced tools to flag unusual activity.

Strong authentication
Multi-factor authentication helps ensure it’s really you.

Dedicated fraud and security team
Specialists who monitor activity and help you when you need support.

Clear reporting routes
You can reach us quickly by phone or through your relationship manager.

Regular guidance
We’ll keep you informed about new scams and how to stay safe.

If you think you’ve been targeted

contact_immediately

Contact us immediately

We’re here to help when you need us. You can give us a call on 0330 094 3333. We’re here Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (from 9.30am on Wednesdays, excluding bank holidays). Or, if you need to let us know about fraud that's taken place outside of these hours, send us an email at OOOFraud@allica.bank

suspicious_email

Don’t reply to suspicious messages

Use only the contact details on our website or card.

record_happened

Record what happened

Note the time, date, what was said, and any payment details.

action_fraud

Report it to Action Fraud

Reporting scams helps stop criminals targeting other businesses. You can report to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime.

Out-of-hours support

Fraud doesn’t always happen 9–5. If our lines are closed, you can still protect your account.

block_card

Block your card

Use online banking or the Allica Bank app to block your card if it’s lost, stolen or compromised.

different_line

Call from a different line 

This makes sure scammers aren’t still connected. 

action_fraud

Report to Action Fraud

After securing your card or account, report the scam to Action Fraud so it can be investigated. 

lines_reopen

Contact us when our lines reopen 

Using trusted contact details, such as on our website or on the back of your card,  get in touch so we can: 

  • Review your account activity 
  • Take any additional security steps 
  • Support you with the next steps 

Disputes

If you’ve made a purchase with your Allica card and something has gone wrong, we are here to help.  

You may have been charged incorrectly, received faulty goods, the goods have not been delivered, or have not received a promised refund, you may be eligible to request a Chargeback. 

A chargeback is a form of extra protection you have when paying with your Visa card. It allows us to attempt to recover funds from the merchant if they have not fulfilled their obligations with the Purchase.

You can request a chargeback for multiply reasons, here are some common examples:

  • You were charged after cancelling a recurring Payment.
  • You did not receive an item you ordered online, or it arrived damaged.
  • A merchant failed to issue a promised refund, or refunds associated to refundable bookings.

There are some important Rules you need to consider:

  • If an item has not arrived, you must wait at least 30 days from the transaction date before raising a dispute.
  • Most chargebacks must be raised within 120 days of the transaction or expected service date. If you are claiming a Transaction outside this time window, we may not be able support you.
  • Contact us if you need assistance, and we will guide you through the process.

Before raising a chargeback, you should try to resolve the matter with the Merchant first. If unsuccessful, you may contact us; however, please note that we typically require supporting documents to assess your claim, such as:

  • Detailed Case description
  • Proof of purchase (receipt or invoice)
  • Evidence of communication with the merchant.
  • Terms and conditions
  • Any other relevant supporting documents.

Expand for more answers +

cloudfront