Hollyoaks actor Adam Rickitt was the victim of an elaborate payment scam where crooks made off with "tens of thousands of pounds".
Adam, 44, said he felt "stupid" for getting tricked and claimed that the convincing scammers "knew everything about him".
Wanting to share his story so others didn't fall for the same trick, he took to Instagram : "CONFESSION TIME! I know a lot of people will laugh at me for this...but I want to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.
"I got completely scammed this week by some fraudsters impersonating @barclaysuk.
He said how he got a text from what he thought was Barclays bank, warning him that there had been "suspicious activity" on his account.
The actor said that he was told by the so-called bank employee that someone from the fraud department would call him to discuss the issue.
He explained: "I got a phone call from an 0845 number and the chap Martin introduced himself said ‘I am ringing from Barclay’s fraud department, did the same security questions I always have.
"While I was on the phone to him on my laptop I even went on the Barclay’s website to check the number he was calling from and sure enough it was the Barclay’s fraud number."
"Long and short of it was he explained to me that someone had been into the Crewe branch and had attempted to withdraw money. He said the only way that person could do that was using my driving licence and my passport and my signature," he explained.
He said that he called his wife and asked her to check that his passport and driving licence were still at the house, and they were.
Adam fought back the tears as he recalled how the scammer, who was impersonating the Barclays staff member told him that it was an "inside job".
The man over the phone then asked Adam to do a 'dummy payment', which would "trigger a member of the fraud department."
But the actor said that he didn't want to, and was told that they would have no choice but to shut down his account.
Adam said how he struggled to look at his wife Katy, who is a Good Morning Britain correspondent, in the eye due to his embarrassment.
He said how the fraudsters knew everything about him and his history with the bank.
He concluded: "I know we all think we know what to do or how to react...but honestly I have never known the stress it created over the course of the scam......and now the embarrassment I feel.
"I can't even begin to suggest how to protect yourself as I thought I was doing everything right...but please just be aware there's people out there who know exactly how to play the system.Be safe x."
