Metro Bank has rolled out an innovative AI-powered scam detection service in collaboration with fintech startup Ask Silver, allowing customers to instantly verify suspicious communications. The new Metro Bank Scam Checker enables users to simply snap a photo or screenshot of any questionable email, website, letter, or leaflet and send it via WhatsApp for immediate AI analysis.
How It Works:
- Snap & Send: Customers capture suspicious content and submit it through WhatsApp
- AI Analysis: Ask Silver’s technology scans for fraud indicators (fake URLs, phishing language, impersonation attempts)
- Instant Alert: Users receive real-time feedback—confirming legitimacy or flagging scams
- Automated Reporting: Fraudulent cases are reported to authorities on the customer’s behalf
Why It Matters:
- Proactive Protection: Tackles scams before money is lost by verifying communications instantly
- Free for Customers: No cost barrier to accessing critical fraud prevention
- Human-Centric Design: Founded after co-founder Jonny Pryn’s family lost £150,000 to fraud
Baz Thompson, Metro Bank’s Head of Fraud, emphasized the tool’s urgency-focused defense:
“Scammers exploit haste—this lets customers pause and verify before acting. It’s a game-changer in disrupting criminal tactics.”
Ask Silver CEO Alex Somervell added:
“Our mission is to protect families by uniting banks, institutions, and the public. Partnering with customer-centric banks like Metro is how we scale that impact.”
The tool launches as UK fraud costs hit £2.3 billion annually, with impersonation scams rising 25% in 2024.