Denise Welch has revealed she was the victim of a cruel phone scam, losing £2,000 to impersonators claiming to be from Barclays' fraud team. The Loose Women star, 66, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday, sharing her experience and urging viewers to be cautious of such scams.
Welch recounted the incident, which occurred before the pandemic, during a busy period when she was rehearsing for the musical "Calendar Girls". A call came in on her phone, displaying "Barclays" as the caller ID, which convinced her it was a legitimate call.
"I had absolutely zero doubt that I was talking to the fraud department from my bank," she said. "I went through, over a series of about four phone calls, all of the information you are duly expected to give â my full name, date of birth, address, postcode and mother's maiden name. I didn't hesitate because it said Barclays."
She continued, "Over about four phone calls, 'Michael' had become my best friend. He said it was taking a long time to do this because this was a fraud that was potentially going to be bigger than they thought."
It was on the fifth call that the scammers requested her PIN. "Even I know that you don't give your pin away," Welch admitted, "but because I was talking to the fraud department at Barclays, I did."
The next day, Welch's husband discovered the scam, revealing that the fraudsters had cloned her credit card and stolen over £2,000 from her account.
"I felt ridiculous about it," she said, reflecting on the incident. "If I had been sat at home and this was happening it may have not happened, but because I was at work I just wanted it sorting."
Welch urged viewers to be vigilant and never give personal information over the phone without verification. "Ring them back," she advised, "even if you have spoken to that person before, say, 'Do you know something? You've called me.'"
According to EE, research indicates that fraud-based crimes account for 40% of all crimes in the UK, with almost all phone users experiencing nuisance calls regularly. The phone network actively blocks millions of suspicious calls and texts each month, preventing potential scams from reaching their intended victims. In the first half of 2024 alone, EE blocked over 84 million scam attempts â double the number compared to the same period in 2023.
This news follows the recent announcement of Welch's son, Matt Healey (of The 1975), and his fiancée, model Gabbriette Bechtel's engagement. Welch gushed about her future daughter-in-law, saying "We couldn't be happier. She is everything I would want in a daughter in law."
The couple confirmed their engagement on social media, with Bechtel posting a picture of her wearing a stunning black diamond ring. She tagged Healey's Instagram account and wrote, "MARRYING THE 1975 IS VERY B**
@trumanblack."
This whirlwind romance has blossomed into a happy future for the couple, with Welch sharing her delight at her son's impending marriage.