Premium Bonds savers are being targeted by a sophisticated text message scam that could put their hard-earned savings at risk, NS&I has urgently warned.
The government-backed savings provider has alerted customers about fraudulent messages circulating that appear to come from NS&I, attempting to trick recipients into revealing sensitive personal and financial information.
How the scam works
The deceptive texts claim there's an issue with the recipient's Premium Bonds account and prompt them to click on a link to resolve the problem. These messages are designed to look legitimate, often using official-sounding language and branding to convince victims they're genuine.
One concerned customer reported receiving a text stating: "We have temporarily suspended your premium bonds account. To reactivate your account, please sign in..." followed by a suspicious link.
Protecting your savings
NS&I has emphasised that they never send text messages containing links to customers. Any message claiming to be from NS&I that includes a clickable link should be treated as fraudulent.
Genuine communications from NS&I will always direct customers to visit their official website directly by typing "nsandi.com" into their browser, rather than clicking through from a message.
What to do if you receive a suspicious message
- Do not click any links in the message
- Never provide personal or financial information
- Forward the message to 60599 (network charges may apply)
- Report it to Action Fraud
- Delete the message immediately
This warning comes during the ongoing cost of living crisis, when many Britons are increasingly vigilant about protecting their savings and investments from potential threats.
NS&I manages savings and investments for approximately 25 million customers, with Premium Bonds remaining one of the UK's most popular savings products due to their tax-free prize draws.
The organisation has reassured customers that their savings remain secure when held directly with NS&I, but emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant against increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.
