Common Scams UK — How to Spot and Avoid Fraud

Scams cost UK victims over £1 billion annually. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Most Common Scams

Overview

Scam Type	Typical Loss
Investment fraud	£10,000-£100,000+
Romance scams	£5,000-£50,000+
Bank impersonation	£1,000-£10,000+
Purchase scams	£100-£1,000
Phishing	Varies widely

Phone Scams

How They Work

Scam	Approach
Bank impersonation	“Fraud on your account”
Police impersonation	“Helping us catch criminals”
HMRC impersonation	“Tax refund” or “arrest warrant”
Tech support	“Your computer has a virus”

Warning Signs

Red Flag	What It Means
Unexpected call	You didn’t initiate
Urgency	“Act now or face arrest”
Request for PIN/password	Legitimate banks never ask
Transfer to “safe account”	Classic scam tactic
Caller ID looks genuine	Can be spoofed

How to Protect Yourself

Action	Why
Hang up	No legitimate caller will object
Call back on known number	From your card or statement
Use different phone	Scammers can hold the line
Never share full PIN/passwords	Bank will never ask
Don’t be pressured	Take time to think

Email and Text Scams (Phishing)

Common Phishing Attempts

Pretends to Be	Message Type
Banks	“Suspicious activity detected”
HMRC	“Tax refund waiting”
Delivery companies	“Redelivery fee needed”
PayPal/Amazon	“Payment problem”
Netflix/Apple	“Subscription issue”

How to Spot Phishing

Check	What to Look For
Email address	Often wrong domain
Spelling/grammar	Often poor
Generic greeting	“Dear customer” not your name
Links	Hover to see real destination
Urgency	“Account suspended”
Request for info	Real companies don’t ask via email

What to Do

Action	Details
Don’t click links	Go to website directly
Check sender	Email address not just name
Forward to report	See reporting section
Delete	Don’t engage

Investment Scams

Types

Scam	How It Works
Crypto scams	Fake platforms, impossible returns
Clone firms	Impersonate real FCA-registered firms
Boiler room	High-pressure share sales
Forex scams	Fake trading platforms
Recovery room	Promise to recover previous losses

Warning Signs

Red Flag	Reality
Guaranteed returns	No investment is guaranteed
Very high returns	Too good to be true
Urgency	“Limited time offer”
Cold call	FCA-authorised firms rarely cold call
Overseas	Unregulated jurisdictions

How to Check

Check	Where
FCA Register	fca.org.uk/register
Warning List	fca.org.uk/scamsmart
Companies House	Company registration
Clone firm check	Contact company direct

Romance Scams

How They Work

Stage	What Happens
Contact	Meet on dating site or social media
Build trust	Communicate for weeks/months
Excuses	Can’t meet in person
Crisis	Medical emergency, stuck abroad
Money request	Wire transfer, gift cards
Repeat	More requests follow

Warning Signs

Red Flag	What It Means
Too perfect	Photos often stolen
Can’t video call	Not who they claim
Quick declarations of love	Manipulation
Always a reason not to meet	They’re not real
Financial problems	Every story leads to money

Protection

Action	Why
Reverse image search	Check if photos are stolen
Video call	Verify identity
Never send money	No matter the story
Tell someone	Get outside perspective
Meet safely	Public place first

Purchase Scams

Where They Happen

Platform	Scam Type
Facebook Marketplace	Non-existent goods
Fake websites	Clone of real retailers
Social media ads	Too-good prices
eBay/Gumtree	Non-delivery, fakes

Red Flags

Warning Sign	What It Means
Price too low	Probably fake
Payment by bank transfer	No protection
Pressure to pay fast	Doesn’t want you to think
No reviews	Unverifiable seller
Generic website	Copied from elsewhere

Safe Purchasing

Action	Protection
Pay by credit card	Section 75 protection
Use PayPal Goods & Services	Buyer protection
Check reviews	Trustpilot, etc.
Verify website	Correct URL, padlock
Collect in person	Where possible

Doorstep Scams

Common Types

Scam	Approach
Rogue traders	“I noticed your roof needs repair”
Distraction burglary	“Can I check your water?”
Fake charity	Collecting “donations”
Council worker impersonation	Check ID

Protection

Action	Why
Check ID carefully	Verify independently
Don’t pay on doorstep	Legitimate traders invoice
Never let unexpected visitors in	Even if they seem official
Use chain or camera	Before opening fully
Say no to pressure	“I need to think”

If You’ve Been Scammed

Immediate Actions

Priority	Action
1	Contact bank immediately
2	Stop any ongoing payments
3	Change compromised passwords
4	Report to Action Fraud
5	Keep evidence

Reporting

Organisation	What to Report
Action Fraud	All fraud (0300 123 2040)
Bank	Unauthorised transactions
FCA	Investment scams
[email protected]	Phishing emails
7726	Forward scam texts

Getting Money Back

Type	Chances
Credit card fraud	Good — Section 75
Debit card fraud	Reasonable — chargeback
Bank transfer (APP)	Possible under CRM code
Cash/gift cards	Very unlikely

Summary: Scam Protection Checklist

Golden Rules

Rule	Why
If it’s too good to be true…	It probably is
Take your time	Scammers create urgency
Verify independently	Don’t use details they provide
Never share PINs/passwords	Legitimate firms don’t ask
Trust your instincts	If something feels wrong

If Contacted Unexpectedly

Action	Details
Don’t engage	Hang up, delete
Call them back	On a known number
Check independently	FCA register, company website
Talk to someone	Get another opinion

Regular Protection

Action	Frequency
Check bank statements	Weekly
Review credit report	Monthly
Update passwords	Regularly
Check for data breaches	When notified

Key Contacts

Service	Contact
Action Fraud	0300 123 2040
Bank fraud line	Number on your card
FCA consumer helpline	0800 111 6768
Citizens Advice	0800 144 8848

Scammers are sophisticated, but most scams follow patterns. Take time to verify, never act under pressure, and report any suspicious approaches — even if you didn’t lose money.