Spot fake TSB fraud-alert, payee-added and card-blocked texts targeting TSB UK customers
Last reviewed: 12 May 2026 · ScamSupport research
TSB and the Fraud Refund Guarantee
TSB introduced its Fraud Refund Guarantee in 2019 — one of the strongest customer-protection commitments by a UK bank, predating the PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme by five years. The guarantee covers most types of fraud-loss to TSB customers regardless of how it happened, with limited exceptions. This makes TSB customers less attractive to traditional APP fraud campaigns but no less targeted by phishing campaigns aiming to steal credentials directly.
Three TSB scam-text variants currently in circulation
From: TSB (spoofed sender ID)
Body: “TSB: A new payee “K. SHAH” has been added to your account. If this wasn’t you, call 020 XXXX XXXX immediately to block.”
Red flags:
Real TSB payee-added alerts don’t embed a phone number. They direct you to call 0800 0567 057 (the consumer fraud line printed on the back of your card) or use TSB’s in-app secure messaging.
When you call, the “fraud agent” confirms the payee is fraudulent and tells you to move your balance to a “safe account in your name”. That account is criminal-controlled.
Generic payee name with realistic surname pattern. “K. SHAH”, “J. BAKER”, “A. JONES” — engineered to feel plausible without being verifiable.
From: TSB (spoofed)
Body: “TSB: Your debit card has been temporarily restricted. Re-activate at: tsb-secure-uk[dot]com to avoid permanent suspension.”
Red flags:
TSB manages card status exclusively through the TSB Mobile Banking app or in-branch. Real TSB never sends customers to third-party verification domains.
The phishing page asks for your TSB Internet Banking ID, password, memorable information, debit card details, and a one-time verification code. The OTP is what the criminal needs to log in from their device in real time.
Domain check. Real TSB lives at tsb.co.uk. Anything-TSB-anything (tsb-secure-uk.com, tsbverify.com) is a clone.
“Permanent suspension” urgency. Real card restrictions are reversible in-branch with photo ID — no genuine bank threatens permanent suspension via SMS.
From: TSB (spoofed) followed by a phone call within 10 minutes
Body: “TSB Fraud Alert: A transfer of £1,920 to a new account is in progress. We will call you shortly to verify.”
The phone call follows: caller ID appears as TSB’s real fraud line. The caller knows your name, sort code, and recent activity. They instruct you to immediately move your savings to a “protected TSB internal account”.
Red flags:
SMS + call combination signals organised APP fraud. The text creates the panic state; the call exploits it.
Caller-ID spoofing. The number on screen can be made to display 0800 0567 057 (real TSB fraud line) or anything else.
Banks never ask customers to move money for their own safety. Hang up if you hear the “safe account” phrase — even though TSB’s Fraud Refund Guarantee covers most losses, you still want to avoid the loss in the first place.
How to verify a TSB text is real
Never call a number from the text. Real TSB fraud alerts direct you to call 0800 0567 057 (the number on the back of your card) or use the app secure messaging.
Open the TSB Mobile Banking app to check. Genuine alerts are visible in the app’s message centre. If the SMS isn’t in the app, it’s a scam.
Never read your OTP or memorable information to anyone on a phone call. TSB has other ways to verify your identity.
If you’ve already transferred money or shared an OTP
Call TSB’s real fraud line on 0800 0567 057 (24/7) immediately. Use the phrase: “This was an authorised push payment scam. Please log it under the PSR reimbursement scheme and the TSB Fraud Refund Guarantee.”
TSB’s Fraud Refund Guarantee covers most types of fraud loss for personal customers, regardless of how the loss occurred, with limited exceptions. This is more protective than the PSR scheme alone. Refunds are typically processed within 20 working days under the Guarantee.
The PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Scheme applies in parallel for APP fraud transfers made after 7 October 2024, up to £85,000 per claim.
Report to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk — crime reference number is required for any Financial Ombudsman escalation if TSB initially refuses.