Which? warns of dangerous scam involving card payment approvals

The consumer group Which? has issued a warning regarding a ‘dangerous’ new scam involving the manipulation of individuals into approving card payments. This tactic mirrors authorised push payment (APP) scams, which typically involve tricking victims into making direct bank transfers, but fraudsters are now expanding their methods to include coerced card transactions.

Criminals often use cold calls while posing as bank security staff, police, or financial regulators. They claim an account is under attack and urge victims to approve card payments or share one-time codes to ‘block’ or ‘reverse’ fraudulent activity.

Which? noted that victims may face significant hurdles when attempting to recover funds. While unauthorised card fraud is generally refunded and APP fraud victims often benefit from reimbursement schemes, those manipulated into approving card payments may not have the same protections. Existing mechanisms like chargeback or Section 75 are primarily designed for unauthorised charges or disputes regarding faulty goods and non-delivery, rather than fraud scenarios where a payment is made to a legitimate business that is part of a wider criminal chain.