Millions of Nationwide customers across the UK are being strongly encouraged to utilise a simple two-button feature within their banking app following a significant security enhancement. This urgent advice comes as new data reveals that the average adult in Britain receives approximately two scam calls every single week, highlighting a growing threat from sophisticated fraudsters.
BBC Expert Champions New Banking Security Tools
Louise Minchin, the respected consumer expert featured on BBC Morning Live, has stepped forward to clarify how modern banking tools are evolving to protect customers. During a recent broadcast, she specifically endorsed Nationwide's newly expanded Scam Checker service, which now includes a vital Call Checker feature.
This innovative tool is designed to provide immediate verification during telephone conversations. "What it means is if you bank with Nationwide, somebody phones you up, and you're not sure whether they are actually from the bank, you can open the app, you can click more and then click call checker and instantly you see you are on a call to Alex," Minchin explained clearly to viewers.
Instant Reassurance in Just Two Clicks
The process is remarkably straightforward, offering peace of mind within moments. "And if you're not on a call, it would say you are not on a call with us. So that's hugely reassuring for people," Minchin added, emphasising the feature's simplicity and effectiveness.
This development is part of a broader industry trend, with several major banks implementing similar protective measures. For instance, Barclays allows customers to request a verification notification directly within their app, rather than via text message. Meanwhile, digital banks like Monzo and Starling offer a 'call status warning', and Revolut has introduced a feature explicitly named 'We Are Not Talking To You'.
Combating Sophisticated Impersonation Scams
Jim Winters, Director of Economic Crime at Nationwide, underscored the critical need for such tools. "Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, and impersonation calls are one of the most common ways they trick people into handing over money," he stated.
Winters elaborated on the psychological tactics employed by criminals: "We are programmed to trust people and when someone uses clever tactics and well-practised scripts - often putting us under pressure or making us panic - it can be hard to know who to trust."
He positioned the Call Checker as a vital defensive layer: "Our Call Checker feature gives our customers peace of mind by confirming if a call is genuine, or not. It’s a simple and effective step that could prevent someone from becoming the next crime statistic."
This proactive approach by Nationwide and other financial institutions represents a significant shift towards empowering customers with real-time, easy-to-use verification methods, directly combating the alarming rise in telephone-based financial fraud.
