Fraud Prevention
In today’s digital age, scammers have become more sophisticated than ever. To safeguard yourself from falling victim to their schemes, it is crucial to stay informed about the various types of scams and how to identify them.
Current fraud trends
Fraud is constantly evolving, with scammers finding new ways to appear convincing, pressure people into acting quickly, and bypass the usual warning signs. Staying vigilant is essential, and being aware of the latest trends can help you spot suspicious behaviour early. Below are some of the common scam types we’re seeing at the moment.
Investment scams
Investment scams are rising, with criminals posing as entrepreneurs or representatives of legitimate companies. They often promise high returns, encourage small initial deposits, and show fake profits to convince you to invest more. Once they have enough of your money, they stop responding and disappear.
Read more about Investment scams.
Remote access scams
Fraudsters may say they need remote access to your device to “help you with the process”. This is used to view sensitive information, access apps, and capture personal data. Please be award, Bamboo will never ask for remote access to your device.
Deepfake & AI‑generated scams
Scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence to create highly realistic fake documents, voices, videos or profiles. These can seem genuine and are designed to build trust or pressure you into acting quickly.
Fraudsters impersonating Bamboo
Debt collection scams
We are aware that some fraudsters are contacting customers while pretending to act as a debt collection agency on our behalf. These claims are entirely false. Bamboo does not use external debt collection agencies, and no third party is authorised to collect payments, visit your home, or take money directly from your employer.
If you ever receive a call, message, or letter that doesn’t feel right - especially one threatening action or demanding payment - please do not respond. Let our fraud team know team know straight away so we can investigate and help keep you and other customers safe.
Social media impersonation
Scammers sometimes impersonate Bamboo through social media, phone calls, text messages, or emails. They may contact customers pretending to be us, often asking for an upfront payment for a loan or attempting to gather personal information. Bamboo does not charge any application or upfront fees, and we never deduct fees from a loan advance.
We are aware that fraudulent copy‑cat pages and accounts occasionally appear online using our branding or similar names to appear genuine. These pages have no connection to Bamboo. We actively report and work to remove them as soon as we become aware of them.
How to identify legitimate Bamboo communications
- If you receive a phone call from Bamboo that you are unsure about, hang up and call us back on 0330 159 6010. We will be able to confirm if it was a member of our team.
- Legitimate texts from Bamboo will always come from these two numbers: +44 7480 559920 or +447897032226.
- The easiest way to spot a fraudulent email is by looking at the sender’s email address. They are often sent from a Gmail account with names like Quick Loan, quickmoneyinstanow, superquickservicenow. A genuine Bamboo email will only be sent from an email address ending in @bambooloans.com.
To read more about impersonation fraud, click here.
Bamboo will never ask you to pay a fee to apply for a loan. If you come across anything that feels suspicious - especially requests for payment or personal details - please do not engage.
If in doubt, do not respond. Call or send us an email instead.
The consequences: Taking out a loan for a false purpose
With scams at an all-time high and the cost-of-living crisis affecting many people, the idea of ‘easy money’ can be tempting.
- Sharing sensitive information with third parties – Providing access to your bank accounts willingly to a third party, means that you are breaking the terms and conditions of your bank or building society. The same applies to other organisations such as price comparison websites. These actions not only put you at risk but also mean you are neglecting the obligations to protect your own personal data.
- Neglecting scam warnings – Bamboo provides thorough scam warnings to all our loan applicants. We ask applicants to read these and consider the messaging before proceeding. This provides an ideal opportunity to withdraw from the process, even at a late stage. Ignoring these warnings may affect the outcome of any investigations.
- CIFAS – Bamboo is an active member of the largest anti-fraud organisation in the country, CIFAS. We have an obligation to report fraudulent behaviour which can impact your ability to obtain future credit and employment.
- If you take out a loan with Bamboo, you are solely responsible to repay the loan.
Protect yourself from third party fraud
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Monitor your credit file: Consider using free credit monitoring services offered by credit reference agencies to stay informed about new searches and accounts opened in your name.
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Set up bank notifications: Enable notifications with your bank to receive alerts for unusual transactions, incoming funds, and outgoings. Most banks provide this service for free.
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Strengthen passwords: Regularly update and diversify your passwords, making sure they are not easily guessable. Use unique passwords for different accounts and change them periodically.
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Enhance mobile app security: Add extra layers of security to mobile apps, such as facial recognition or fingerprint authentication.
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Adjust social media privacy settings: Review and adjust your social media privacy settings to control what others can see about you.
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Not sure if it is a scam? Take a look at ScamSmart Investment Checker for help identifying investment and pension scams.
Have you been scammed?
Stop. Hang up. Call 159
Dialing 159 works in the same way as calling 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS. It is the number you can trust to get you through to your bank safely and securely. If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details - stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank. Read more on 159 here.
Do you think you have been scammed?
If you have noticed suspicious activity or think you may have been a victim of a scam, there are a couple of methods to help identify this.
- If you have been offered an investment opportunity, you can take the ScamSmart Test from the Financial Conduct Authority.
- Check if the firm or individual offering you this opportunity is authorised. You can do this by searching the FCA’s Financial Services Register.
If you have any concerns relating to your Bamboo loan, please call us immediately on 0330 159 6010 or email our fraud team directly at fraud@bambooloans.com.
You can report any scams to Action Fraud. However, if you believe that a scam poses a direct threat to you or someone else, do not hesitate to call the police on 999 to report the situation.
Reporting scam emails and online fraud
Report scam emails to your email provider (e.g. Gmail or Outlook) using their ‘report phishing’ or ‘report scam’ feature. For suspicious online ads, report them directly to platforms like Google or Bing using their reporting options. Your actions help combat fraud and protect others.
