Barclays has urged customers to be vigilant if they are offered ‘free money’. The bank issued the alert for all UK customers through a post on its social media channels.

Writing on Instagram, @Barclaysuk advised customers to ‘watch out for red flags’ while browsing online. The bank highlighted that ‘red flags’ include promises of free cash or claims that ‘feel too good to be true.’ As part of a safety alert, Barclays provided an example of a dodgy social media video.

In the clip, a staff member posing as a fraudster told viewers: “You can claim back thousands from your direct debits. I can show you how to get it refunded.” She was then interrupted by a colleague.

Providing guidance, the Barclays employee said: “If you’re still watching, that means you might need to learn about how to spot a direct debit scam. Videos like this, where someone offers you something that’s too good to be true, are often fraud.

“Remember to never share your bank details with a stranger. And if you see videos like this on your feed, remember to ignore them, block them, and move on.”

In the post’s caption, Barclays added: “The best way to protect yourself from social media scams is to block any accounts that post this type of content. Remember to watch out for red flags, like being offered ‘free money’ or any other claims that feel too good to be true.”

Customers can find further information about fraud prevention on the bank’s website. Barclays said: “Fraudsters try to appear legitimate, so it’s important to be vigilant. Contact us straight away if you think you may have been the victim of fraud or a scam.”

Barclays warned that common types of fraud include card fraud, where a criminal steals your card details; identity fraud, where your personal information is targeted by fraudsters trying to open loans and credit cards in your name; and card machine fraud, which sees criminals take your card and empty your bank account, reports the Mirror.

Meanwhile, digital scammers could send phishing attempts. Barclays explained: “You get an email, text message or call claiming to be from a company or organisation you trust, like your bank or the police.”

Barclays said scammers could also use a tactic called ‘social engineering’. “Social engineering is when scammers trick you into giving them confidential or personal information, then use it to help them scam you,” it said.

Contact your bank immediately if you have lost any money or spot an unauthorised transaction. If you think you’ve been scammed, call your bank, stop all contact with the scammer, report the fraud to Action Fraud, and change compromised passwords. Secure your devices, check bank statements for further issues, and report suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.