Martin Lewis shares important reminder to everyone who has a bank account

Martin Lewis has shared a safe way to ensure you're really speaking to your bank if they call you.

With scammers using clever tricks to gain money from victims by any means possible, it's essential to remain vigilant when it comes to communications around your finances. But the Money Saving Expert, 51, issued an important reminder on social media which could prevent anyone with a bank account from being duped.

Martin, who previously co-hosted money saving segments on Good Morning Britain as well as his own ITV programme The Martin Lewis Money Show, took to X, formerly Twitter, to share this advice. He wrote: "Phone number to remember: 159".

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He went on to explain: "If you need call your bank urgently (eg its just called you, and you've hung up as it may be a scam) and can't remember its number, just call 159 and it'll put you through." He added: "PS if you have had [a possible] scam call, use a different line to call back (or wait an hour) in case they're spoofing a dial tone."

The number was launched by Stop Scams UK and Global Cyber Alliance in 2021. It's free to call and safely connecting users to their bank. Stop Scams UK said the service works in the same way as as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS.

Stop Scams UK explained that calling the number 'breaks the scam journey at the critical moment when you are at most risk of being manipulated into making a payment.' They added: "So, even if scammers can make contact with you, that link will be broken by your call to 159, before any information is shared, any payment is made, and any harm is done."

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