Scammers use victims' date of birth to pose as banks, prompting advice to keep birthdays private online

Summary

Fraudsters posing as bank staff call victims about supposed suspicious activity, then read out their name, address and date of birth to seem legitimate, using those details as part of a web of verifying information. The Guardian reports that giving a fake date of birth, or leaving the field blank when creating an online account, can offer protection from identity theft.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   1 Nov 2026, 07:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that scam callers who pose as bank staff use a victim's name, address and date of birth to appear legitimate, and that advice to enter a fake date of birth or leave the field blank when opening online accounts can help prevent identity theft.