Find out about the latest scams trending this month. Come across a scam? Let us know by using our scam sharer tool.
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7 September
Police warns of rise in pet scams in Manchester
Greater Manchester Police has reported a rise in fake puppy and kitten adverts on social media, with four cases recorded last week.
These scams involve ‘sellers’ advertising pets on Facebook and Gumtree. Commonly, fraudsters ask prospective buyers to pay a deposit for an animal without seeing it.
Next, they’ll request more money to cover additional costs such as insurance and vaccinations, before disappearing with the cash.
For tips on avoiding online pet fraud, check the full advice from Greater Manchester Police.
Ticket scams have doubled in the last year
1,905 ticket scams were reported to Santander in the first seven months of 2023, more than double the 789 recorded in the same period last year.
Ticket scams happen when a scammer sells a fake or non-existent ticket online, often via social media.
Customers aged 19-34 were most commonly targeted, but those aged 35 or older reported the biggest losses, averaging £194.
We recently reported on a rise in football ticket scams last year. For advice on spotting and avoiding ticket scams, see our full story.
6 September
Watch out for QR code scams in car parks
We’ve received several reports of scammers sticking dodgy QR codes on ticket machines in car parks.
Ticket machines often contain scannable QR codes, which enable drivers to download the car park operator’s app to pay for their parking.
However, scammers are sticking fake codes to machines in an attempt to trick victims. If you scan a dodgy code, you’ll be taken to a website where you’ll be asked to enter your payment details.
If you enter your details, you may be signed up for a recurring monthly payment. This echoes another form of car parking scam we reported on last month.
Santander launches campaign against romance scams
Santander has launched a new campaign to warn consumers of the dangers of romance scams.
The bank says almost a third of people have been targeted by romance scammers, with victims losing an average of £2,300.
As part of its initiative, Santander has launched a range of ‘love hurts’ sweets, which contain key phrases romance scammers use to lure victims.
5 September
Watch out for recovery scams
If you’ve recently fallen victim to a scam, you’ll need to be on your guard against fraudsters contacting you claiming they can get your money back.
We’ve seen examples of scammers calling and emailing victims offering recovery ‘services’ for an up-front fee, and fraudsters lurking on social media targeting recent scam victims.
See our full investigation to learn more about recovery scams and how to stay safe.
4 September
EE phishing emails
These scam emails claim your EE account is being restricted due to a payment issue.
If you click the link in the email, you’ll be taken to a copycat website which asks you to enter your billing information.
30 August
FCA issues scam warning
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says it has received 7,700 reports of attempted impersonation scams so far this year.
The regulator says that typically, scammers will tell you you’re owed compensation and ask for your bank details so they can ‘pay’ you.
The FCA has reiterated that it does not contact members of the public in this way and that unsolictied requests for your personal information should be ignored.
29 August
iCloud security threat scam
Dodgy emails impersonating iCloud are circulating. These messages tell you that a security threat has been detected and provide a link to ‘secure your account.’
This takes you through to a phishing website.
Dodgy Lidl survey site
This scam website tricks victims into thinking they’ve won homeware items in a Lidl giveaway.
The site asks you to complete a survey about shopping at Lidl before asking you to enter your personal information.
Fraudsters lurk behind driving licence posts on Facebook
In this month’s Scamwatch column, our expert investigates dodgy posts in a Facebook group for second-hand car sales.
These posts offer people the chance to buy a driving licence without passing their test.
Find out how these posts link to phishing scams – and what the DVLA has to say about them – in our full story.
26 August
ULEZ scams: drivers targeted by fraudsters when paying charges
Scammers are taking out adverts on Google in an attempt to trick drivers looking to pay Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges.
Some of these ads lead to websites that set up recurring payments or stack admin fees on top of the standard charge.
See our investigation to find out more.
24 August
Diet pill emails
Dodgy emails offering miracle diet pills are circulating once again.
These messages lead to fake news articles which detail success stories in an attempt to convince you to purchase the pills.
If you continue to click through, you’ll be sent to a phishing website where scammers will try to obtain your personal and financial information.
TV Licensing scam
These scam emails claim your TV licence has expired.
The emails give you a deadline to update your bank details in order to renew your licence.
If you follow the link, you’ll be taken to a phishing website.
22 August
Action Fraud warns about Air Fryer scams
Action Fraud says it has received 468 reports about scam emails offering Air Fryers in the last two weeks.
The emails claim to be from Asda. They state that the recipient has won an Air Fryer and include a link to claim the prize.
These links take you through to a phishing website.
Wilko copycat websites
Fraudsters are seeking to capitalise on Wilko going into administration with dodgy Facebook ads promising discounts of up to 90%.
These ads send you through to copycat websites. Find out how the scam works in our full story.
21 August
BT phishing scam
Scammers are sending emails claiming to be from BT. These messages state that you need to ‘refresh’ your account due to security measures.
The emails include a dodgy link that you’re encouraged to click on to ‘verify’ your account.
18 August
PayPal impersonation email
This email claims you’ve been selected to win a prepaid PayPal card worth £1,000.
If you click on the link, you’ll be taken to a dodgy website where you’ll be asked to fill in your personal details.
15 August
Cath Kidston copycat websites
Dodgy websites are popping up impersonating the defunct British retailer Cath Kidston, the rights to which were recently acquired by Next.
Shoppers are being led to the sites via scam adverts on Facebook which promise significant discounts.
The fraudulent websites include:
- cathkidston-uk.com
- cathkidstonuks.com
- cathkidstonsale.com
- cathkidstonuk.shop
This is a common trend at the moment – we’ve recently seen scammers impersonate the retailer Joules.
14 August
Streaming platform voucher scams
Dodgy emails offering annual Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions for just £2 are doing the rounds.
The emails use Netflix and Amazon branding and contain a phishing link to ‘claim the deal’.
11 August
Action Fraud warns of vishing scams
Action Fraud says it has received reports of fraudsters calling people claiming to be from BT.
The scammers then make follow-up calls claiming to be a representative of Action Fraud.
If you get one of these calls, hang up and report it online or via 0300 123 2040.
Parking app scams: drivers tricked into signing up for subscriptions
Rogue advertisers are hijacking promotions for parking apps and using QR codes to trick victims into setting up recurring payments.
Find out how these scams work in our full story.
10 August
Avast impersonation email
An email imitating the antivirus company Avast informs you that your subscription has expired and you’re eligible for an 89% renewal discount.
The message includes a link to a website which asks for your personal details and payment information.
Amazon scam ads
Scammers are trying to lure victims by impersonating Amazon in dodgy Facebook ads.
One ad asks you to send a message for a part-time job that pays £100-£200 a day.
Fake job adverts can often be the starting point for more complex scams – see our recent story to find out more.
A second scam ad advertises cheap pallets as part of a liquidation sale. If you click the link in the ad, you’ll be taken to a phishing website.
8 August
Electoral Commission targeted by cyber attack
The Electoral Commission says it has fallen victim to a ‘complex cyber-attack’.
The elections watchdog says registers containing the name and address of anyone in the UK who registered to vote between 2014 and 2022 may have been accessed.
For more on what happened and advice on whether your data is at risk, check out our full story.
FCA issues loan fee fraud warning
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned consumers about a growth in loan fee fraud.
The regulator says reports increased by 26% in 2022 and that people applying for loans should be on their guard against cold calls and unexpected emails.
If a company asks you to pay an up-front fee, it could be a scam. Victims lose an average of £260 to loan fee fraud.
Joules copycat websites
Scammers are impersonating the clothing retailer Joules in dodgy adverts on Facebook.
The links in these ads take you to copycat websites, where scammers will attempt to steal your bank details.
See our full story to find out more about how the scam works.
7 August
Microsoft ‘unusual activity’ email
This scam email impersonating Microsoft informs you that somebody has signed into your email account from Moscow.
The email goes on to tell you that if this wasn’t you, you should follow a link to ‘report the user’. This can lead to your details being phished on a malicious website.
6 August
Fake job scam texts
Scammers posing as recruiters are impersonating companies in texts and WhatsApp messages advertising non-existent jobs.
After luring you in with the promise of well-paid flexible roles, these texts typically lead to more complex scams.
3 August
ICO urges consumers to report cold calls
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a reminder of the importance of reporting nuisance calls, texts and emails.
It says it has issued more than £2.4 million in fines against companies since April 2022, and has been granted court orders to wind up four companies who failed to pay.
The reminder comes as the government consults on banning cold calls on financial products such as mortgages, insurance and cryptocurrency.
A ban on genuine companies making cold calls could make it easier for consumers to identify scam calls.
Nuisance calls can be reported to the ICO using its online tool.
2 August
Fake Ninja air fryer giveaway
Scammers regularly impersonate retailers in emails offering you the chance to ‘win’ products.
This scam email impersonating Argos says you’ve been chosen to participate in its loyalty program and must follow a link in order to receive a free Ninja air fryer.
You’ll then be taken to a survey website and asked questions before being asked for personal information such as your email address, home address and bank details.
Santander impersonation email
This phishing email uses Santander’s branding to appear authentic, but comes from an unrecognised email address.
The message informs you that ‘critical improvements’ have been made to Santander’s ‘web-based banking service’ and that you’re required to click a link to initiate the changes.
1 August
Amazon issues scam warning
The retailer Amazon has issued a warning about common impersonation scams currently circulating.
Scammers are sending emails, texts and making calls telling you that you need to reinstate your Amazon Prime membership or that there is an issue with your account.
They will then try to get your bank details in order for you to restore your membership.
- Account suspension/deletion scams:
Messages and calls claim that your Amazon account will be suspended or deleted.
Emails and texts include phishing links to ‘verify your account’. Calls involve scammers asking you to share your personal details.
You can report Amazon impersonation scams on its website.
The most common scams of 2023
From scammers promising huge returns on investments to fraudsters lurking on dating sites, we take a closer look at the most commonly reported scams so far this year.
Check out our full story for insights on the tactics used by scammers and how to spot them.
