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The most common scams Brits fall for—and how to avoid them
If you’ve ever been the victim of a scam, or you’ve suspected that you’ve been targeted by one, you will understand how frustrating—and damaging—they can be.
Online scams in particular are becoming more prevalent, with fake emails that ask you to “verify” your bank details, or text messages asking for funds to collect an undelivered parcel, the goal is similar—to trick you into revealing your personal or financial details.
Now, a new survey from legal experts Upcounsel has revealed the online scams that British people fall for the most.
In the survey, they spoke to 1,376 people from different parts of the country, in order to find out which scams were most common, and which regions lost the most money as a result.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What are the most common scams British people fall for?
The most common scams in the UK come from those claiming to be from HMRC, with 16.9% of respondents selecting this as their answer.
The second most common type of scam is from those pretending to be from your bank or building society, with 15.7% of people reportedly receiving fake calls or texts from them.
The third most likely was a Royal Mail scam, with 12.8% of people reporting this. One of the most common methods that scammers use is to send a text which prompts you to click on a link in order to pay for an undelivered parcel.
What areas are people most likely to be targeted by scammers?
People from Leicester are most susceptible to scams, with 31.58% of respondents from the city initially falling victim to the fraudsters.
People from Hull have lost the most money, with a massive 33.33% claiming to have lost money as a result of fake calls or texts.
Which age group is the most susceptible to scammers?
It comes as no surprise that fraudsters are more likely to target older people, and the survey results reflected this.
People aged 60+ are the most likely to be victims of fake calls or texts, with 27.7% initially falling for the scam.
50-59-year-olds were the second most susceptible category, (27.3%) followed by people aged under 20 (18.2%).
People aged 20-29 are the least likely to fall victim to a scam, with just 5.52% of people in this age group reporting that they fell for the hoax calls or texts.
How can I avoid falling for the scams?
There are many different types of scams, and multiple ways you can avoid being caught out. Here’s some advice.
In order to avoid investment scams, the Money Edit’s Fitzpatrick advises: “Before you part with any cash, always check the FCA’s (Financial Conduct Authority) warning list for known scams to see what investments are regulated and to check for known scams.”
If you’ve been contacted unexpectantly, it’s important that you learn if it’s legitimate. Contacting the firm directly to verify if it’s real is a good way to do this.
You can also use the official contact details on listed on the company’s website, or documents you might have been sent. If it’s your bank, then you can usually find its official number on the back of your credit or debit card.
If you receive a text or email that contains a link, avoid entering your personal information into a website you don’t recognise or trust.
For more information, visit www.gov.uk.
What should I do if I’m targeted by a scam?
Contact Action Fraud if you think you’ve lost money or been hacked because of an online scam or fraud and you’re in England or Wales. You can:
Report online - either sign up for an account or continue as a ‘guest’
Call 0300 123 2040
Commenting on the findings, Private Detective Ali Marsh of Miss AM Investigations had the following advice to offer: “As soon as you realise that you have been scammed, report it, as the bad debts will be under your name and address. Report it to your bank/ credit company as they then take responsibility for the Investigations.
“Action fraud will be alerted and a record of your case will be recorded. Most banks will reimburse you if you have transferred money to someone who has scammed you.”
