1 in 5 adults have fallen victim to scammers

Shoppers have been urged to stay alert for scams ahead of Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season.

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Cifas and Tietoevry Banking, one in five UK adults have had money taken by scammers in the last year.

And the average victim is losing £878.60.

But beneath the headline figures lie some extremely worrying trends.

Notably, scammers are increasingly going after younger adults and even children.

Millennials - people aged between 29 and 44 - lost an average of £1,457 each.

That’s more than three times the figure for 45 to 60-year-olds (£444).

And 16% of parents with children aged seven to 17 say at least one has fallen victim to a scam.

Scams are becoming an everyday problem

The report also found that many of us come across scams regularly.

In fact, 67% of people surveyed said they’d encountered at least one scam attempt in the last year.

Shopping scams are particularly common, with nearly 45% seeing attempts to trick them into buying non-existent items.

“Fraud is a national emergency costing the UK billions each year and affecting millions of lives,” said Mike Haley, chief executive of Cifas.

“As we head into the busiest shopping season of the year, it’s vital that consumers stay vigilant and verify before they buy.”

Overconfident consumers at risk

Interestingly, the people who said “I can always spot a scam” ended up losing the most money - £1,592 on average.

This might seem surprising, but when you think about it, it makes sense.

After all, overconfidence makes us more likely to skip basic checks and rush decisions.

And scammers will often capitalise on this by trying to create a sense of urgency, perhaps by suggesting that a product is nearly sold out or that time is running out to take advantage of a good deal.

Why do people think they fell for scams?

When people who’d been successfully scammed were asked why they think they were tricked:

• 22% said the scam seemed very realistic
• 9% acted too quickly
• 9% were tempted by an offer that looked attractive
• 7% were using a platform for the first time
• 6% didn’t know enough about the real organisation the scammer was impersonating

So it’s clear that scammers are good at pretending to be trustworthy and legitimate.

But encouragingly, many of us are prepared to be sceptical when confronted with a seemingly tempting offer.

Figures showed that more than nine in 10 (91%) adults take steps to check if an offer is genuine, such as checking for spelling and grammatical errors, and asking themselves if it seems too good to be true. 

How to stay safe from scammers

The last thing you want before Christmas is to fall victim to a scam, so take steps to protect yourself.

Do your research

Always check a seller’s ratings, feedback and history before making a payment.

Avoid clicking links in messages 

These might contain malware or take you to fake websites, so always use the retailer’s official website instead.

Be wary of social media ads

Scammers often use social media to lure people in with tempting ads or posts that lead to fake websites.

Double-check the web address

Bogus websites might have small clues that they aren’t the real deal like small spelling errors or unusual domains.

Avoid bank transfers

Use secure payment methods, such as credit or debit cards, or trusted digital wallets, so you have protection if things go wrong.

Don’t act on impulse

Scammers often want to force you into making a quick decision, so it’s important to think clearly and don’t rush.

And remember the old adage that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Check out our guide on how to outsmart online scammers for more tips to help you stay safe.

Reporting a scam

If you’ve been scammed, you can report it to Citizens Advice and they’ll pass information onto Trading Standards, who’ll decide whether or not to investigate.  

It’s also worth reporting it to Action Fraud on their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.  

If you spot an online scam advert, you can report it to the Advertising Standards Authority.