This is where information is garnered from a person to access bank accounts, rather than breaking into a system.

• View details of the fraud alert.

Fraudsters may contact solicitors or accounting staff in the firm by phone or email to obtain enough information to take control of bank accounts, including details of online banking passwords or pin codes. They can then use this information to withdraw money from those bank accounts.

Please be aware of this type of fraud and warn all staff, in particular accounting staff, to be particularly careful about disclosing any information about bank accounts by email or phone, including online banking passwords or pin codes. Online banking passwords or pin codes should never be disclosed by email for security reasons.

Instructions from your clients to initiate financial transactions that are received by email or by phone should be rigorously checked to verify their authenticity.