WE all like to think that we’d beat the scammers if they came knocking – but are you really that savvy?
After all, the latest Global Anti-Scam Alliance report warns that people in the UK lost £11.4billion to scams in the last year – up £4billion on the year before.
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And the average loss per victim was £1,400, with just 18% recovering their money.
This is at a time when we hear about how to spot scams more than ever, and we have gadgets laden with scam-busting tools.
We spoke to several security experts who revealed five of the most simple-but-effective scams going – they’re all shockingly common AND easy to spot… but repeatedly catch out Brits.
So, are you STILL so sure you’d spot them coming?
SCAM 1 – EMAIL EXTORTION
One of the most twisted scams being delivered to Brits is email extortion, often with a sexual spin.
Sometimes this might involve genuine blackmail, but often hackers simply fabricate dodgy evidence to scare you.
This is a cheap and easy tactic that Brits do fall for.
“Blackmail scams claim to know damaging information about a victim, demanding payment to keep quiet,” said Chris Hauk, of Pixel Privacy, speaking to The Sun.
“Victims are told they have been recorded doing disgusting things while at their computer or using their mobile device, and that the video will be sent to friends, family, and employers if they do not pay up.”
These claims can be scary, and there’s a sinister trick that crooks pull to make them even more convincing.
They’ll use fake email addresses that look like your own account to hoodwink you.
“Email extortion scams claiming to have compromising pictures of end-users in intimate moments are quite common, and remain some of the most prevalent scams on the internet these days,” said Michael Tigges of Huntress.
“An adversary will often spoof the email addresses in the mail and generate an email that appears as if it was sent from the user’s own email account and claim to have access to all accounts.
“They will ask for money, cryptocurrency, etc., to avoid ‘leaking’ these pictures or videos.”
Staying Safe
It’s important to not give in to the scammer’s demands.
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In the first place, even if the material that the crook has is legitimate, paying them won’t help. They might just take your money and share it anyway.
But in most cases, the crooks have simply invented the dodgy material – and won’t show any real proof that they have it.
It’s best to just ignore these scam messages. Interacting with the crook shows that your email is active and that you’re willing to engage.
And that could lead to them targeting you with other scams down the line, or trying a different tactic on you.
SCAM 2 – TECH SUPPORT
Next up is the iconic tech support scam, which still successfully hoodwinks unsuspecting Brits.
“Tech support scams are another classic,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told The Sun.
She described it as “a pop-up or call pretending to be from Microsoft or Apple, pushing you to hand over control of your computer or bank details”.
It might sound obvious, but they often come out of the blue and catch you off-guard.
And with years of experience under their belts (and now the power of AI), scammers can generate highly convincing fake alerts.
“Fake tech support scams are also highly common,” Michael Tigges, a security analyst at Huntress, told The Sun.
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“A website will generate a ‘notification’ prompt in modern browsers which mimics an anti-virus/Microsoft notification and asks the end-user to call a number controlled by the adversary.
“That person will then remotely access the computer and either install malware, or remotely fake a number of ‘tech issues’ that must be fixed for a fee.”
Staying Safe
Be extremely sceptical of any mysterious pop-ups.
Look out for typos, bizarre requests (for passwords or money), aggressive wording, and unusual styling (does it fit how your device normally looks?).
And if you’re unsure, check with your device maker to see if it’s legit.
SCAM 3 – THE URGENT PROBLEM
Another iconic scam that gets Brits is the urgent problem con.
This is extremely simple – and that’s what makes it so effective.
“The scams that catch people out most often are usually the simplest,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told us.
“Fake texts or emails saying you’ve missed a delivery, owe tax, or need to fix a bank problem are still everywhere.
“And they work because they create a sense of urgency that does away with calm and clear thinking.”
REPORTING SCAMS
Here’s the official advice on reporting scams from Action Fraud…
Have you spotted a suspicious email?
If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk
Have you received a suspicious text message?
Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726. This free-of-charge short code enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.
Have you received a suspicious phone call?
If you’ve lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a call, you should report it:
- In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to us online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
- In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.
If you have not lost any money or responded to the call, you should report report scam call numbers free of charge to 7726. Your provider can find our where the call came from and block or ban the number.
To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE SCAMMED
Here’s the advice from Citizens Advice:
Contact your bank immediately if:
- there’s a payment from your bank account you don’t recognise – this is known as an ‘unauthorised transaction’
- you’ve used your debit card and more money was taken than you expected
“Explain what’s happened and ask if you can get a refund,” Citizens Advice said.
“If you’re not happy with how the bank deals with your claim, you can complain to them. Find out how to do this by checking their website.
“If it’s been 8 weeks since you complained, and you haven’t got your money back, contact the Financial Ombudsman.”
You will need to give your bank as much detail about the scam as you can. That includes exactly what info you may have handed over to the scammers – or if you’ve downloaded any dodgy files.
That way, they can prevent more money from being taken from you in the future.
You should then contact the police about the scam.
Crooks can deliver this kind of scam in bulk – hitting hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of targets.
And they just need a fraction of those targets to bite, allowing them scoop up prized info or cash.
It can take many forms, but the style is always the same: you must act quickly, or you’ll be handed a bill.
“A victim is told they have several outstanding fines or payments that must be paid immediately or they’ll face prosecution,” Chris Hauk told us.
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“However, if they just go and buy several gift cards amounting to the outstanding sum and provide the information to the scammer, all will be forgiven.
“Emails and text messages claim that sums of money are owed either for a debt, or a fine, or even a toll road fee.
“They may also provide a link to pay that is actually to a malicious site designed to harvest financial information from the victim.”
Staying Safe
Scammers don’t want you to have time to think things over or to check out their story.
Chris Hauk
If you ever receive an urgent alert, pause – don’t act fast.
Instead, reach out directly to the company that the alert claims to be from.
Use the official phone number or email on the website, and not the one you’ve been sent with the alert.
And if the fine or charge comes from a suspicious company you’ve never heard of, do your research. Is it a real company? Does it have an online presence or reviews? Is it registered on Companies House? Who runs it?
SOCIAL ENGINEERING SCAM – HOW IT HAPPENS
Here’s a tale of how quickly £4,500 can be lost to crooks, as revealed by Action Fraud…
“Sophie, a 25-year-old marketing executive from Manchester, received a convincing email that appeared to be from her bank, alerting her to suspicious activity on her account,” Action Fraud said.
“The email included the bank’s official logo and a link to a website that looked identical to her bank’s online portal. Concerned about her finances,
“Sophie clicked the link and entered her login details, believing she was securing her account.
“Within minutes, she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a bank representative, who referenced the ‘suspicious activity’ and asked her to confirm her identity by providing additional personal information and a one-time passcode sent to her phone.
“Trusting the caller, Sophie complied, only to discover the next day that £4,500 had been withdrawn from her account in several unauthorised transactions.
“The scammers had used her credentials and the passcode to bypass the bank’s security measures. Despite reporting the incident immediately, the funds could not be recovered.”
Ask these questions before handing over any cash.
Chris added: “Scammers don’t want you to have time to think things over or to check out their story.”
SCAM 4 – THE FAKE JOB
The fake job scam is one of the most nefarious cons out there.
It’s almost unimaginable to think that you’d fall for such a wheeze. Surely you’d spot a fake job a mile off?
But it’s easy to forget that when you’re hunting for a new role, you might be feeling particularly desperate.
And as the cost of living goes up, Brits can be tempted by easy money or a more relaxed working environment.
Crooks know this, and capitalise on it.
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“Fake job offers are also becoming increasingly common, these often sound appealing at first, promising easy money, work-from-home roles, or a big windfall,” Proton’s Patricia Egger told us.
“They hook people with the promise of good news, then demand ‘processing fees’ or bank details.”
She continued: “These tricks work because scammers know how people act in response to emotions, both good and bad.
“And with increasing quantities of data about us online, ‘I’d never fall for that’ is just one data leak away from being untrue.”
Staying Safe
Patricia’s best advice is to watch out for red flags like:
- Unexpected links or attachments in a chat about a job
- Pressure to act immediately
- Being asked to move money for a job or pay fees upfront
- Any perk of the job that seems too good to be true
She added that you should always make sure to “slow down and stay sceptical”.
SCAMS IN 2025 – THE EXPERT VIEW
Here’s what Sean Keach, The Sun’s resident tech expert, thinks…
It’s never been easier to carry out scams.
Cybercriminals have the world’s arsenal of tech at their disposal.
And with AI, they can supercharge their efforts by crafting convincing scam materials in seconds – and then dispensing it to victims just as quickly.
It sounds terrifying, and in many ways, it is.
But there is some good news.
Although scammers can carry out scams more convincingly and at greater speed, they’re still the same classic cons at their core.
And that means the age-old rules you need to follow stay the same too.
Avoiding scams really is as simple as being as cautious as you can be.
If something seems too urgent or too good to be true, don’t be afraid to take a step back and give it a good think.
Ask your friends and family for advice. Do research online.
Money can disappear in the blink of an eye, and you’ll struggle to get it back. And the same is true for info, which can be used to defraud you or hoodwink those close to you.
So be extremely careful before you ever hand anything over online.
If something seems off, it probably is.
Picture Credit: Sean Keach
SCAM 5 – FRIEND IN NEED
There are lots of variations of this con, but it’s commonly known as the “friend in need” – or lately, the “hi mum, it’s me” scam.
This is when a crook pretends to be someone you know to hoodwink you.
It works because so often we expect scams to come from people we don’t know – or criminals posing as businesses.
“It’s not just strangers,” said Patricia Egger, of Proton.
“Criminals often pretend to be friends, colleagues or family by hacking accounts or stealing personal details.
“If you get an urgent request from someone you know that feels unusual, check with them through another channel before doing anything.”
These crooks might message you from a strange WhatsApp account, and say, “Hi mum, it’s me your daughter, I’m texting from a friend’s phone.”
And they’ll say that they’re in trouble and need money fast.
They might give the excuse that they’re in legal trouble, need cash for a taxi home, or have some other urgent money worry.
Many parents or pals will dismiss these texts out of hand.
But it only takes a little absent-mindedness and some luck on the part of the crook and you can easily fall for the con.
It’s increasingly common in the UK because so many Brits fall for it.
Worse still, some crooks will actually text you from your own family member’s phone number.
“Accounts can be taken over, and regularly are, by bad actors,” said Erich Kron, of KnowBe4.
“It can email, social media, or any number of other mediums, and attackers know that communications from known associates carry a lot of inherent trust.
“They can even hijack previous conversations, making it look even more legitimate.”
HOW THE ‘IN NEED’ SCAM REALLY HAPPENS
Here’s a case study from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute of a woman who tried to send £2,600 to criminals posing as her son…
“A member of the public named Alison received a message on the popular messaging platform WhatsApp: ‘Hi mum, I’ve dropped my phone down the loo (sad emoji) this is my new number’,” the CTSI said.
“Alison replied to the message and asked if it was her son, Will, to which the scammer replied in the affirmative.
“The very next day, Alison’s ‘son’ messaged her asking for £2,600 and explained that he had got mixed up with loan sharks and needed to pay up. Alison didn’t doubt the message for a moment.
“Alison tried to call her ‘son’ back, but the person on the other end kept saying they couldn’t take the call and continually put pressure on her to make the payment quickly.
“This worried Alison, who agreed to make the payment. The person gave the bank details of the alleged loan shark to pay.
“Fortunately for Alison, she forgot to click the final payment confirmation and, after some time, the scammer messaged asking for a picture to prove the payment had been made.
“This caused a wave of scepticism in Alison’s mind, and then it was confirmed that the message was indeed a scam.”
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Staying Safe
With this scam, your best defence is communication.
Be cautious whenever anyone asks you for money urgently – even a family member.
If they do, reach out to them by some other method, like calling them on the phone, to verify that it’s actually them asking for money.
Another good trick is to create a safe word or phrase that your family uses to verify that they’re really asking for cash.
“It’s important to establish an understanding between peers and family,” said Huntress’s Michael Tigges.
“Consider establishing ‘safe words’ or phrases that can be utilised when calling family members or peers from an untrusted number to confirm identity.
“And encourage family members, especially the elderly, to be highly sceptical of phone calls from untrusted numbers.”
Your safe word could be anything – even a silly phrase like “purple banana”.
It just needs to be something that you and your loved ones can remember, but that a criminal could never guess.
Don’t save it anywhere on your phone. Keep it as secret as possible.
It could mean the difference between avoiding a scam or losing thousands to a criminal – and then never getting it back.