TL;DR: Scam texts pretending to be Barclays say a direct debit has been set up, or a £1,500 credit card application approved, and give a phone number to call “if this wasn’t you.” Which? has flagged both repeatedly in 2026. The number connects to a fraudster posing as Barclays’ fraud team. Don’t call it. Hang up and dial 159 or use the number on your card. Forward the text to 7726 and scam emails to internetsecurity@barclays.co.uk.
The two versions
Which? has logged them several times this year in its scam alerts:
- “A direct debit has been set up” (May and September 2026): a direct debit you don’t recognise, with a number to call to cancel it.
- “Your £1,500 credit card application has been approved” (June 2026): an application you never made, and a number to call if it wasn’t you. Which? noted that number had been spoofed in other scam texts.
Why it works
Most scam texts ask you to click. These ask you to call, which feels like the careful thing to do. And the message is designed to make you ring *immediately*: someone is taking money or opening credit in your name. On the call, a calm “fraud adviser” takes your details, then talks you into moving money to a “safe account” or reading out a one-time passcode.
What Barclays says
Barclays says it will never ask you to disclose your personal or security details by email or over the phone (Barclays).
How to check
- Open the Barclays app and look at your direct debits and recent activity.
- If you’re worried, call 159 or the number on the back of your card. Never the number in the text.
- Real credit card approvals arrive after an application you made, not out of nowhere.
Report it
- Forward the text to 7726.
- Forward scam emails to internetsecurity@barclays.co.uk.
- If you lost money, report to Report Fraud.
If you called the number
If you shared card details, passcodes or moved money, call Barclays via 159 straight away. Change your online banking passcode. UK banks reimburse many authorised push payment victims; see reimbursement rules. Read how 159 works for next time.
Not a Barclays customer?
You’ll still get these. They’re sent to huge lists hoping to hit customers. A free email exposure check shows if your details are in breach data. See also UK bank impersonation scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Barclays "direct debit set up" text real?
Treat it as a scam. Check your direct debits in the app and call 159 or the number on your card if worried.
I got a text saying my Barclays credit card was approved. What should I do?
Don’t call the number in the text. Call 159 or the number on your card to check.
How do I report a Barclays scam?
Forward texts to 7726 and emails to internetsecurity@barclays.co.uk.
Will Barclays ask for my security details on the phone?
No. Barclays says it will never ask you to disclose personal or security details by email or phone.
Sources
- Which?: The latest scam alerts (Barclays texts, 2026)
- Barclays: Report a suspicious message
- Report Fraud (UK)