Have a Lloyds Avios credit card? Check your statement immediately as dozens report fraud on Amex cards issued by the bank
- Dozens have reported fraud on their Lloyds Bank Avios Amex card
- Industry expert is urging those who hold the card to check statements
- Many of the fraudulent payments have been made in the US
Britons who have a Lloyds Avios Rewards credit card have been urged by an industry expert to check their statements after reports of a string of fraudulent activity.
Rob Burgess, founder of credit card website Head for Points, had a spate of people contact him after seeing fraudulent transactions appear on their statements.
The cards are the American Express version of Lloyds Avios credit cards and the majority of the fraud appears to be in the form of contactless payments in the US.
Avios fraud: Many who have the Lloyds Avios card have reported fraudulent activity
Mr Burgess told This is Money: 'The extent of the fraud came to light after our readers started to post comments about transactions that were appearing on their cards from stores in the USA. More than 50 readers posted their experiences.
'The Lloyds Avios Rewards card is popular because it is the only rewards credit card in the UK to offer 0 per cent FX fees when travelling and reward points on top.
'It isn't clear if Lloyds, American Express or a third party is responsible, but Lloyds is certainly responsible for not automatically notifying all cardholders of a potential breach.'
It is believed the Lloyds Avios Rewards card is one of the most popular reward credit cards currently on offer.
Earlier in the year, This is Money revealed how some customers who use the card, enticed by the bank's offer of Avios points that can be redeemed for flights, saw balances vanish – and were told it will take fully six months to rectify.
Head for Points - the UK's biggest frequent flyer website – has a number of people who have been hit by the fraud, some of which we highlight below:
'About a week ago my wife's Lloyds Avios Amex card was used fraudulently by someone over in New York for a few different things so we called Lloyds to talk about this and get the card cancelled and a replacement sent out.
'Logged into her account yesterday to find that my supplementary Amex was also used fraudulently earlier this week, also in New York.
'As my card has been sitting in a drawer at home and my wife's has been in her purse the whole time, certainly haven't been nicked and cloned or anything like that.
'When speaking to Lloyds last night, they said that they were currently getting thousands of calls a day as they were seeing a lot of fraud on specifically the Amex cards people had, with the vast majority of the activity being contactless transactions in the US.
'The guy we spoke to said that clearly there had been some issue somewhere but given the large quantity of it going on, it was clearly an issue somewhere else and not with us – slightly happy but obviously also concerning there's a significant issue somewhere else in the system.
'Certainly explains why it took 25 minutes to get through to their fraud team…'
Familiar pattern: Many of the fraudulent payments have been made in New York
Another said: 'I got a text from Lloyds over the weekend asking if I was trying to pay for something in Albertson? As I'd never heard of the place I texted back no.
'Checked my account and there were six transactions all in New York State I didn't recognise. Two in Office Depot, one in Babiesrus. Called Lloyds and all removed no problem but it did make me wonder how the card had been cloned, I really use it infrequently.'
Another added: 'I had to ring them last night as I had a fraudulent transaction appear in my pending transactions. They need to wait until it clears to refund it.
'Apparently there were a few more attempts that were declined. It does look like there has been a serious breach of security somewhere.'
One reader said: 'My Lloyds Amex was used fraudulently to pay some car parking charges in the US.
'I think there is a huge data breach here with Lloyds – just hope they only lost card numbers and not all of our personal information.
'I spent two hours on the phone with Lloyds this week trying to sort it, they were blaming Amex for it, until I said I'd call Amex directly and ask, then they changed their mind.'
Another said: 'My Lloyds Amex was a new card, it had never been used and had never left my home, still somehow hacked and used at a sporting goods store in USA.'
Lloyds Bank said fewer than one per cent of Lloyds Bank Avios Rewards American Express credit card customers have been hit and that the activity it has seen is inconsistent with a data breach.
A spokesman added: 'A very small number of Lloyds Bank Avios Rewards American Express credit card customers have been affected by recent fraudulent activity.
'This has affected less than one per cent of customers who hold these cards and we have introduced additional controls to provide further protection.
'These controls have been successful in ensuring that fraudulent transactions are identified and declined. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused.
'Impacted customers will receive a full refund of monies that have been taken fraudulently.'
THIS IS MONEY'S FIVE OF THE BEST CREDIT CARDS
Virgin Money's Virgin Atlantic Reward+ card offers up to 15,000 Flying Club Miles and spend £3,000 within the first 90 days. You earn 1.5 miles per £1 spent on the card. Interest on purchases is 22.9% and it carries an annual £160 fee.
MBNA's Purchase card offers up to 26 months 0% interest on purchases - the longest interest-free deal available. It offers the same 0% window on balance transfers with a 2.69% handling fee. 20.9% APR
The American Express Platinum Cashback card offers up to 5% cashback for the first three months, and up to 1.25% back on spends after that. The card carries a £25 annual fee with interest of 22.9% on purchases.
The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is an old favourite for holidaymakers with no overseas fees This includes both spending and cash withdrawals abroad. It charges interest of 19.9% APR
M&S Bank's Reward Credit Card comes with double reward points on your spending - that's two M&S points per £1 spent in stores - for a year, plus £20 in M&S points to sign up. You also get 6 months 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers. 19.9% APR
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