Banks could be given extra time to investigate suspicious payments in an effort to curb fraud.
The Treasury has said that proposed new laws would enable banks to pause transactions for up to 72 hours where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a payment is fraudulent.
Currently, banks must either process or refuse a payment by the end of the next business day.
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The move, which has the support of the banking industry’s trade body, follows a row over the maximum amount a bank or payment firm must refund victims of so-called authorised push payment fraud – the most common type.
That is when individuals or businesses are tricked into sending money to a fraudster’s account.
Banks successfully lobbied for a lower limit, which was eventually set at £85,000 per claim. It comes into force on Monday.
The government said the proposed additional powers to delay payments would better help banks slash the estimated £460m lost to fraud in the last year.
It accounts for more than a third of all reported crime in England and Wales and also includes losses from purchase and romance scams.
AdvertisementUnder the planned rules, if a bank finds evidence to suggest a payment is fraudulent, it would need to inform the customer about a delay and explain what they need to do in order to unblock it.
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Banks would also have to compensate customers for any interest or late payment fees they could incur as a result of delays.
“Hundreds of millions of pounds are lost to scammers each year, targeting vulnerable communities and ruining the lives of ordinary people,” Tulip Siddiq, economic secretary to the Treasury, said.
“We need to protect these people better, which is why we are giving banks more time to investigate suspicious payments and break the criminal spell that scammers weave.”
Ben Donaldson, managing director of economic crime at trade body UK Finance, said the additional time would allow payment service providers to contact customers at risk.
“This could potentially limit the psychological harms that these awful crimes can cause and stop money getting into the hands of criminals,” he said.
Tips to avoid scams
The FOS has offered some tips to avoid falling victim to fraud:
• A bank or the police will never call to ask you to move your money to a “safe account”. Hang up the phone and contact your bank.• Be wary of paying money as part of an employment opportunity. It is likely to be a scam.• Investments advertised on social media could be dodgy. Ensure the company is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.