Branch staff at banks, building societies and Post Offices worked with police to stop £322,958 of fraud through the Banking Protocol rapid scam response in South Wales in the first half of this year, according to UK Finance figures.

The Banking Protocol is a UK-wide scheme, launched by UK Finance, National Trading Standards and police. Branch staff are trained to spot the warning signs that suggest a customer may be falling victim to a scam, before alerting their local police force to intervene and investigate.

The latest figuresreveal that branch staff invoked the Banking Protocol 104 times in South Wales between January and June 2021, savingpotential victimsan average of £3,100 each. In total across the UK, the scheme has prevented £174mof fraud and led to934arrestssince its launch in 2016.

The protocol is used to prevent impersonation scams, in which criminals imitate police or bank staff and convince people to visit their bank and withdraw or transfer large sums of money. It is also used to prevent romance fraud, in which fraudsters use fake online dating profiles to trick victims into transferring money, and to catch rogue traders demanding cash for unnecessary work on properties.

Customers assisted by the scheme are offered a variety of ongoing support to help prevent them falling victim to future scams.

Katy Worobec, Managing Director of Economic Crime at UK Finance, said:

"Fraud has a devastating impact on victims so partnerships like the Banking Protocol are not only crucial in helping vulnerable people, but it also stops stolen money from going on to fund other illicit activities including drug smuggling, human-trafficking and terrorism.

"Criminals have continued to capitalise on the pandemic to commit fraud, callously targeting victims through impersonation, romance, courier and rogue trader scams. Branch staff and the police are working on the frontline to protect people from fraud and these figures highlight the importance of their work in stopping these cruel scams and bringing the criminals to justice."

Detective Inspector Nick Bellamy, of South Wales Police's Economic Crime Unit, said:

"We are committed to doing what we can to prevent fraud, to apprehend perpetrators, and to support would-be victims – particularly those who are most vulnerable.

"We know that fraudsters are manipulative and calculating, using methods including the impersonation of police, government or bank employees, to try to dupe their victims into handing over money or access to their account. Fake online dating profiles – trying to trick victims into sending money – are also widespread.

"The Banking Protocol plays a vital role in minimising the risk that someone may fall victim to frauds such as these, or exploitation by rogue traders, by ensuring bank branch staff can recognise the signs of fraud and immediately inform police."

To build on the scheme's success, banks and building societies are working with police on expanding the process to cover attempted bank transfers made by customers through telephone and online banking.

Customers are urged to follow the advice of theTake Five to Stop Fraudcampaign, and toremember that a bank or the police willneverask you to transfer funds to another account or to withdraw cash to hand over to them forsafe-keeping.