Nationwide issues warning after customers wake up to letters on doorstep
Nationwide issues warning after customers wake up to letters on doorstep

Nationwide has issued a warning urging customers to be alert, as concerns grow that criminals are using a more personal, old-fashioned tactic to trick people into handing over money. But the real red flag isn’t just what the letters say. It’s where they’re left.

Why a letter on your doorstep feels harder to ignore

Emails can be deleted. Texts can be blocked. But a letter on the doorstep feels different.

It suggests effort. It suggests intent. And crucially, it suggests the sender knows exactly where you live.

That sense of closeness is no accident. Fraud experts say scammers are increasingly turning to physical methods to cut through digital scepticism. After years of warnings about dodgy links and fake texts, many people still trust paper. Criminals are betting on that trust.

A letter waiting outside your door first thing in the morning can push you into acting before you’ve had time to think. That’s precisely the moment scammers are aiming for.

The quiet return of “offline” scams

While banks have strengthened online security, fraudsters have adapted. Printed letters don’t trigger spam filters. They don’t rely on suspicious websites. And they don’t leave the same digital trail.

Doorstep delivery adds another layer. It creates urgency without saying a word. Recipients may assume the letter is important simply because someone went to the trouble of delivering it by hand.

In short, it feels personal. And that’s what makes it dangerous.

What these letters usually want

Reports suggest many of the fake letters promote eye-catching savings rates or claim there is an issue with an account that needs immediate attention.

The aim is simple: get the reader to act fast.

That might mean calling a phone number printed on the letter, moving money to a so-called “safe” account, or sharing security codes. Once that step is taken, scammers can drain accounts in minutes.

Nationwide has stressed it will never ask customers to reveal full security details or move money at short notice. Genuine messages are typically delivered through official channels, not left outside your home.

Warning signs to watch for

A Nationwide letter should raise suspicion if it includes:

  • unusually generous savings rates

  • urgent deadlines or threats of account restrictions

  • instructions to transfer funds

  • unfamiliar phone numbers or QR codes

  • language designed to stop you checking independently

And remember: legitimate banking letters are delivered by post, not placed on doorsteps.

What to do if one turns up at your door

Do not follow any instructions on the letter. Do not call the number provided.

Instead, contact Nationwide directly using the phone number on its official website or through the banking app. If you think you’ve already shared details or sent money, act immediately.

The bottom line

This warning isn’t just about a fake letter. It’s about how scams are changing.

Fraud doesn’t always arrive in your inbox anymore. Sometimes, it’s waiting outside your front door, relying on the fact that paper still feels more trustworthy than a screen.

Staying safe now means questioning how a message reaches you, not just what it says.