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uk Money & financial emergencies unexplained micro-deposits in bank • unknown small deposits • tiny bank credits i did not request • mystery penny deposit • test deposits in my account • someone verifying my bank account • bank account linking without permission • suspicious incoming payments • random small credits bank account • micro payment verification scam • confirm deposit amounts scam • account takeover early sign • unexpected bank transfer credit • unknown merchant deposit • payment app linked to my bank • open banking access i didn’t grant • i received small payments i didn’t request • unexpected credit then debit

What to do if…
you notice unexplained micro-deposits in your account that you did not request

Short answer

Treat unexplained micro-deposits as a possible sign someone is trying to link to (or test) your account. Contact your bank using a trusted route and ask them to secure the account.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t spend, move, or “send back” the money to anyone who contacts you about it.
  • Don’t reply to messages/emails/calls that “explain” the deposits or ask you to confirm the amounts.
  • Don’t call a number given in a text/email about the deposits (or from an unexpected caller). Use the number on your card or your banking app.
  • Don’t assume “it’s only pennies so it’s harmless” — small credits can be a setup for later fraud.
  • Don’t delete alerts/texts/emails about new payees, new devices, or security changes.

What to do now

  1. Capture the facts (2 minutes): in your banking app, note the date/time, amount, reference/description, and any sender details for each micro-deposit. Screenshot or write it down.
  2. Check for other account changes: look for new payees, newly added devices, changes to your contact details, and any new scheduled payments (standing orders) or Direct Debits you don’t recognise.
  3. Contact your bank via a trusted route (now): use the number on the back of your card, your bank’s official app chat, or their official website. If you’ve just had (or are worried about) a scam call, you can hang up and dial 159 to reach your bank if your bank participates; if it doesn’t, use your bank’s official number instead.
  4. Ask the bank to take specific protective actions while you’re on the line:
    • Flag the deposits as suspicious and check whether they match any known account-verification or account-linking attempt.
    • Confirm your contact details (phone/email/address) haven’t been changed.
    • Review recent changes (new payees, new devices, security setting changes, attempted logins).
    • Ask what immediate protections they can apply (for example, extra monitoring or temporary restrictions). If they can’t confidently explain the source, ask whether they recommend replacing compromised details (new card, and in some cases new account details).
  5. Secure your online banking immediately after the call: change your banking password and any memorable information, enable/strengthen multi-factor authentication if available, and sign out of other devices/sessions if your bank offers that option.
  6. Check for third-party access you didn’t approve: in your banking app/online banking, look for “connected apps,” “third-party access,” or “Open Banking permissions,” and revoke anything you don’t recognise. If you can’t find a dashboard, ask your bank to check and remove any third-party access from their side.
  7. If there’s any sign of broader identity misuse, add a protective layer: check your credit file for unfamiliar accounts/searches and consider a fraud-protection service (such as a protective registration marker) if you believe your personal details are being used.
  8. Report it through the correct UK route once your bank has secured you:
    • England, Wales, Northern Ireland: report fraud/cybercrime via Action Fraud (Report Fraud).
    • Scotland: report via Police Scotland on 101.
      Keep any reference number with your notes and share it with your bank if asked.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to close the account permanently or change banks (unless your bank advises urgent replacement details).
  • You don’t need to buy paid “credit monitoring” services right now.
  • You don’t need to confront any person or company you suspect — let your bank handle trace and investigation steps.

Important reassurance

Seeing unexplained tiny deposits is unsettling, but it’s also an early warning sign you can act on quickly. Calm, contained steps now (bank contact + security + removing unknown access) often stop it escalating.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise the situation and prevent avoidable mistakes. If your bank later confirms account takeover or identity misuse, you may need additional steps (for example, deeper credit-file action or a formal complaint path).

Important note

This guide is general information for first-step harm prevention, not legal or financial advice. Bank processes vary; the safest move is to use your bank’s trusted contact routes and follow their security instructions.

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