Metro Bank has introduced an AI-powered scam detection tool, becoming the first UK bank to offer customers instant scam checks through a simple WhatsApp service.

Developed in partnership with Ask Silver, the Scam Checker allows users to upload images or screenshots of suspicious emails, websites, or documents for rapid analysis and safety advice.

The tool is free for personal and business customers, who receive alerts if the communication is flagged as fraudulent. Ask Silver's technology not only identifies potential scams but also automatically reports them to relevant authorities.

The company was founded after one of the co-founders' family members lost Pound 150,000 to a scam, fuelling its mission to prevent similar crimes.

The launch comes amid a surge in impersonation scams across the United Kingdom, with over Pound 1 billion lost to fraud in 2023. Metro Bank's head of fraud, Baz Thompson, said the tool helps counter tactics that rely on urgency and pressure.

Customers are also reminded that the bank will never request sensitive information or press them to act quickly via emails or texts.