Revolut app, Photo: © Rafael Henrique | Dreamstime.com
The National Directorate of Cyber Security warns of “an increase in phone call scams using the name Revolut”, explaining to users how they can recognize a genuine call and what to do if they are the target of a fraud attempt.
“In the context of the intensification of online shopping activities, including Black Friday campaigns, Revolut signals a significant increase in fraud attempts through phone calls (spoofing), in which attackers claim to represent the financial platform, a bank or a public institution,” DNSC said.
The institution explained that the purpose of these fraudulent calls is to convince victims “to confirm fictitious transactions, send money to a 'secure account' or divulge sensitive data such as PINs, authentication codes or personal information”.
“Fraudsters use phone numbers that appear legitimate, sometimes with a Romanian prefix, and adopt an urgent or authoritative tone to pressure users to act quickly. Some callers even present themselves as agents of the Revolut support service,” notes DNSC.
“If it's not in the app, it's not Revolut”
The DNSC described this as a “golden rule”, recalling that Revolut has made it clear that it will only contact its users through the app.
“The platform does not contact users by direct phone call, unless a call has previously been established through the in-app chat. Any call received 'out of the blue' — regardless of the displayed number or explanation — should be considered an attempted fraud,” DNSC warns.
The DNSC noted some “clear indicators of a scam:
- the call comes directly to the phone, not through the Revolut app;
- is unsolicited and appears unexpectedly;
- the caller does not speak Romanian fluently or adopts a pressing tone;
- a transaction is invoked that you are not aware of;
- you are prompted to send money, provide data or install suspicious applications.”.
DNSC says that Revolut will never ask during a call to send money to a “safe account”, make a payment of any kind, ignore in-app warnings or submit PINs, OTP codes or personal data.
The institution warns that “any of these requests is a major alarm signal and justifies the immediate termination of the call.”
“According to Revolut, authenticating the user even before a call is initiated from the app eliminates the possibility of fraudsters. In 2024, automated systems and the fraud prevention team were able to block more than £600 million of fraudulent transactions,” DNSC further states.
What DNSC says you should do if you receive a suspicious call:
- Hang up immediately.
- Check in the app, in the chat, if Revolut tried to contact you.
- Report the incident in the application and to the authorities (ANCOM, DNSC, Romanian Police).
- Don't send money or share any personal information.
Photo: © Rafael Henrique | Dreamstime.com
