Overview

• The 159 anti-scam hotline, launched in September 2021, offers a simple, memorable number for users to verify suspicious financial communications directly with their bank.
• Virgin Money is the latest institution to join the service, bringing the total number of participating banks to 21 and extending coverage to 99.2% of UK current accounts.
• The hotline has logged over one million calls to date, demonstrating its growing role in protecting consumers from financial fraud.
• More than 1,600 individuals use the service daily, underscoring its importance in combating the surge in scams across the UK.
• Prominent financial expert Martin Lewis has praised the service as a vital tool for scam prevention, urging the public to remember and utilize the number.