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uk Money & financial emergencies

What to do if…
you notice unexplained small deposits in your bank account

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat unexplained micro-deposits as a possible sign that someone is testing or trying to link to your account. Contact your bank using a trusted route and ask them to secure the account before you respond to anyone else.

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, or calls that ask you to confirm the deposit amounts.
  • Don’t call a number from a text, email, or unexpected caller about the deposits; use your banking app, the number on your card, or your bank’s official website.
  • Don’t assume it is harmless because the amounts are small.
  • Don’t delete alerts, texts, emails, or app notifications about new payees, new devices, Direct Debits, or security changes.

What to do now

  1. Capture the details: note the date, time, amount, reference, and sender description for each micro-deposit. Take screenshots if you can do that safely.
  2. Check for other changes in the account: look for new payees, new Direct Debits, new standing orders, newly added devices, changed contact details, or security alerts you do not recognise.
  3. Contact your bank now using a trusted route: use the number on the back of your card, your bank’s official app chat, or your bank’s official website. If you have just had a suspicious call about money or your bank, hang up and dial 159 if your bank is reachable through that service; otherwise use your bank’s official number.
  4. Ask the bank to check the account while you are speaking to them:
    • flag the micro-deposits as suspicious;
    • check whether they look like account-verification or account-linking attempts;
    • confirm that your phone number, email address, and postal address have not been changed;
    • review recent logins, new devices, new payees, Direct Debits, standing orders, and security-setting changes;
    • ask what temporary protections they can apply, such as extra monitoring or restrictions.
  5. Secure online banking after the bank call: change your banking password and memorable information, strengthen multi-factor authentication if available, and sign out of other devices or sessions if your bank offers that option.
  6. Remove any third-party access you do not recognise: in online banking, look for “connected apps,” “third-party access,” or “Open Banking permissions.” Revoke anything unfamiliar, or ask your bank or building society to check and remove access from their side.
  7. If you see wider identity misuse, add a protective layer: check your credit files for unfamiliar accounts or searches, and consider Cifas Protective Registration if you believe your personal details may be being used.
  8. Report after your bank has secured the account: if you are in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, report fraud or cybercrime through Report Fraud. If you are in Scotland, report it to Police Scotland by 101 or through Police Scotland’s reporting routes. Keep any reference number with your notes.

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 do not need to buy paid credit monitoring or identity services before speaking to your bank.
  • You do not need to identify or confront the sender yourself.
  • You do not need to reply to any person or company claiming the deposits were a mistake.

Important reassurance

Unexplained tiny deposits are unsettling, but they are also something you can act on early. The safest first steps are contained: pause, use a trusted route to your bank, secure access, and keep clear notes.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to stabilise the situation and reduce avoidable risk. If your bank later confirms account takeover, identity misuse, or disputed payments, you may need specialist help from your bank, a fraud-reporting body, or a regulated advice service.

Important note

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

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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