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 steps to help secure your account.
Freeze your card
Use the app or online banking:
Log in
Select your Business Rewards Account
Go to cards → freeze card
Turn on payment approvals
Add extra protection for outgoing payments:
Log in
Go to manage account
Switch on payment approvals
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.
Account takeover attempts
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.
Authorised push payment (APP) fraud
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.
Fake invoices and supplier impersonation
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.
Phishing, spoofing and impersonation
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.
Card-not-present and online payment fraud
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.
Bogus customers and vendors
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.
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How to protect your business
See tips below on how to stay on top of fraudsters.
Verify payment requests
Be cautious if someone claims bank details have changed
Use trusted numbers only
Avoid using contact details in emails
Take your time
Fraudsters rely on urgency
Pause and double-check anything unusual
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
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
Be cautious with emails
Don’t click unexpected links
Check sender addresses carefully
Avoid opening unexpected attachments
Train your team
Share red flags with anyone handling payments
Add fraud awareness to onboarding
Encourage reporting of anything unusual
Monitor your account
Set up payment notifications
Review transactions regularly
Query suspicious activity straight away
How Allica keeps your account safe
See tips below on how to stay on top of fraudsters.
Real-time transaction monitoring We use advanced tools to flag unusual activity.
Use only the contact details on our website or card.
Record what happened
Note the time, date, what was said, and any payment details.
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 your card
Use online banking or the Allica Bank app to block your card if it’s lost, stolen or compromised.
Call from a different line
This makes sure scammers aren’t still connected.
Report to Action Fraud
After securing your card or account, report the scam to Action Fraud so it can be investigated.
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.
What is 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.
When can I raise a chargeback?
You can request a chargeback for multiple 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.
What do I need to raise a chargeback?
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:
