Father’s Day scam alert: don’t let fraudsters spoil your weekend

If you receive a call saying, “Hi Dad” this Father’s Day weekend, think twice before responding.

Santander is warning parents to stay alert to a growing impersonation scam that sees fraudsters posing as sons or daughters in urgent need of money. With advances in AI technology making fake calls and messages increasingly convincing, scammers are exploiting family trust to steal thousands of pounds.

According to Santander’s data, men lost an average of £100,000 a day to scammers during the first six months of the year, with investment and purchase scams accounting for the largest losses.

How the scam works

Fraudsters contact victims by text message, WhatsApp, or even AI-generated phone calls, pretending to be a family member who needs urgent financial help.

Typically, the scam follows three stages:

The message

You receive a text or call from someone claiming to be your child. They often say they are contacting you from a ‘new number’ because their phone has been lost, stolen, or damaged.

The pressure

The scammer creates a sense of urgency, claiming they need money immediately for an emergency, bill payment, or unexpected expense.

The payment request

You are asked to transfer money to a bank account that does not belong to your child, often with instructions not to delay.

How to protect yourself

Verify the caller

Never send money immediately. End the conversation and contact your child using their usual saved number to confirm the story.

Ask a question only they would know

If you cannot reach them, ask about a shared memory, family detail, or something only your child would know.

Check the account details

Be extremely cautious if the account name does not match your child’s name.

Never act under pressure

Fraudsters rely on panic and urgency. Take time to think before making any payment or sharing personal information.

Other ways to stay safe online

Scammers are becoming ever-more sophisticated and often imitate brands, retailers and organisations we trust. These simple precautions can help protect you:

Be wary of social media adverts

Fraudsters frequently use platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to promote fake offers that lead to fraudulent websites.

Check website addresses carefully

Look for unusual web addresses, misspellings, or domains that do not match the company you believe you are dealing with.

Look for warning signs

Suspicious websites often contain:

• poor spelling, grammar or punctuation
• low-quality images
• unprofessional layouts or design

Avoid bank transfers when shopping

Whenever possible, pay by credit card, debit card, or a trusted digital wallet, which may offer additional protection if something goes wrong.

Don't click links in unexpected messages

Instead, visit the retailer’s official website directly by typing the address into your browser.

Be suspicious of unexpected contact

If someone contacts you out of the blue requesting money, personal information, or urgent action, stop and verify their identity independently. Never rely on contact details provided in the message itself.

Remember the golden rule, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

How to report a scam

If you spot a scam or believe you’ve been defrauded, report it to Report Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you get a scam email, forward them to [email protected], and if you received a dodgy text, forward it to 7726.

What else can do if you’ve been scammed?

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam:

• contact your bank or card provider immediately and explain what has happened
• change any passwords that may have been compromised
• monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
• run a security scan on your device and ensure your software is up to date

The sooner you act, the better your chances of limiting any financial loss and protecting your personal information.

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