An urgent warning has been issued to all HSBC customers in the UK: watch out for the following text message.

“HSBC: A payment to MR/MRS [insert name] has been attempted on [insert date] at [insert time]. If this was NOT you, please visit:”

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The text, reported by Birmingham Live, attaches a URL link to a fraudulent page, where scammers will attempt to siphon your personal details.

HSBC has warned that this is a scam – and you should not click on the link attached in the message “under any circumstances”.

The scam message is doing the rounds in the UK and replicates one affecting other high street banks too.

While people have been targeted with scams from a number of banks, couriers, and trusted payment companies such as PayPal, this particular scam is aimed at HSBC users.

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If in doubt, don’t respond – call us

An HSBC spokesperson said:

“If you’ve received a text message that looks like it may have come from HSBC, have a look here to see if it really did come from us.

“Criminals have become very sophisticated in enticing you to click on links or call phone numbers that belong to them.

“They pretend to be an organisation you trust, like your bank, utility company, internet provider or even the police or HMRC.

“We won’t contact you from a normal mobile number other than the examples below.

“You might receive other texts from us, depending on your marketing preferences. If in doubt, don’t respond – call us on the normal number on the back of your card.”

HSBC has shared examples of texts that are from them and they all include a legitimate phone number.