Lloyds Bank is preparing to roll out a new in-app feature called Scam Check, designed to intercept online shopping fraud before customers transfer money to criminals.
The tool will be embedded directly into certain payment journeys within the Lloyds mobile app. When a customer attempts to pay a new payee for an online purchase, Scam Check will prompt them with a short series of questions and ask them to upload screenshots of the item they intend to buy. Artificial intelligence will then analyse the information submitted, scanning for common warning signs such as prices that appear implausibly low, newly created seller accounts with no ratings, vague item descriptions, requests for deposits, and pressure or urgency tactics. If the purchase appears suspicious, customers will receive a clear warning before any money is sent.
The launch reflects the scale of shopping fraud affecting Lloyds customers. Approximately 68% of all fraud reports received by the bank relate to shopping scams, with the majority originating on Meta-owned platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Lloyds has committed £100m to new fraud prevention technology, part of a broader effort that saw the bank block more than £1bn in attempted fraud during 2025. Its existing systems already check an average of 23,551 transactions per minute for suspicious activity, a process made visible to customers through the presence of the bank’s anti-fraud DarkHorse logo. The bank has also deployed AI-driven tools to assist fraud prevention colleagues during live customer interactions, enabling faster review of transactions and real-time scam risk assessment, reducing response times and freeing staff to focus on customer support.
Lloyds fraud prevention director Liz Ziegler said, “Scams are becoming more convincing, targeted and emotionally manipulative, making them harder to spot and we need to use all the tech and tools we can to fight back. Scam Check will be the newest way we address the enormous threat of online scams, designed to step in at the right moment, spot the warning signs earlier and support customers before money can leave their account. By continuing to combine cutting-edge technology, with the expert judgement of our colleagues, we’re helping customers stay one step ahead of scammers.”
Minister for Fraud Lord David Hanson said, “Fraudsters will stop at nothing to take your hard-earned money. I welcome Lloyds’ plans to introduce Scam Check and urge everyone to Stop! Think Fraud to protect themselves and those close to you. We’re investing £250 million as part of our new Fraud Strategy to crackdown on this criminality. We will use every tool at our disposal to dismantle criminal networks, bring fraudsters to justice and strengthen protections for victims.”
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