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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We all think we’d beat the scammers – but even very simple modern cons can catch us outCredit: Getty
And the average loss per victim was £1,400, with just 18% recovering their money.
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.
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.
Deepfakes more ‘sophisticated’ and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes
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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Email is still a classic way for crooks to reach Brits, and they’re not doing it for a laugh – it really still does catch people out in 2025Credit: Getty
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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Tech support scams often start with a shocking pop-up, often in bright red and with a serious warning attachedCredit: Getty
“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.
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):[email protected]
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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Scammers will send you official-looking missives that claim you’ve got an unpaid bill, there’s a transaction you need to deal with urgently, or that you’re on the hook for a massive fineCredit: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce
“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 HaukPixel Privacy
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 scams often come via WhatsApp – don’t fall for themCredit: PA
“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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Crooks will send messages pretending to be a loved one – be very wary if you ever receive a text like thisCredit: Alamy
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.
Two stories dominate Wednesday’s front pages: Nigel Farage’s plan to deport 600,000 migrants and the engagement of Taylor Swift to Travis Kelce. The Taliban is “ready and willing” to work with Reform UK to accept Afghans that deported by the UK, reports the Daily Telegraph. The paper quotes a Taliban official as saying it “may be easier” to deal with Farage than the current UK government.
The Metro also leads on the unveiling of Farage’s “shock” plan, dubbed Operation Restoring Justice. Reform said it would cost about £10bn over five years, but would save the government money it spends on asylum hotels and other costs over the long term.
Under Farage’s plan, immigration enforcement teams would introduce “US-style raids” to track down illegal migrants in Britain, according to the Daily Mail. Women and children who arrive in the UK on small boats would be detained and removed as well as men, Farage said, to mitigate what the paper calls “mounting public anger and despair”.
“Britain is better than this” is the headline for the Daily Mirror, which warns against politicians “playing the migrant card” to win support. It call on public figures to “look to their consciences before speaking – for the sake of decency and humanity”.
Farage’s plan also makes the Daily Express splash. Also featured is a picture of newly-engaged Swift and Kelce, with the caption “Baby just say yes!”, a line from the US popstar’s 2008 hit Love Story.
Opponents of Reform describe its plans as “ugly” and “divisive”, according to the Guardian. Also with a top slot is the news that the UK has “almost certainly” had its hottest summer on record, according to provisional statistics from the Met Office.
Plans for the French coastguard to intercept migrant boats could be “in jeopardy” because of the possible collapse of France’s government, according to the Times. UK officials hailed changes to French maritime law in June as a “gamechanger” in stopping small boat crossings, but they could be at risk if the French government loses an upcoming confidence vote, it says.
The i leads on Farage’s promise to strikes deals with “fundamentalist regimes”, including the “Taliban and Iran’s Ayatollah”. Downing Street hasn’t ruled out a returns agreement with Afghanistan, but would not hand over asylum seekers to the current regime, the paper reports.
Swift’s engagement splashes the Sun, which features a close-up picture of her “enormous” engagement ring. “Look what you made me.. I do,” is the headline.
The US is prepared to provide “intelligence assets and battlefield oversight” as part of a European-led air defence shield for Ukraine, reports the Financial Times. The US offer to assist the so-called “coalition of the willing”, led by the UK and France, is “contingent on commitments by European capitals to deploy tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine”, according to European and Ukrainian officials cited by the paper.
“Wedding Tay,” declares the Daily Star, which lifts a quote from the couple’s engagement post on Instagram: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married”.
A 68-YEAR-OLD woman has revealed that she said ‘I Do’ with her Nigerian toyboy, who is 43 years her junior.
When Kay, 68, and Ablack, 25, first connected on Facebook, they had no idea that a simple social media like would lead to marriage.
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An age gap couple have candidly opened up about their unique relationship, which started from a Facebook likeCredit: Instagram/@ab_ablack2
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Ablack, 25, proposed to Kay, 68, just three days after meeting and he is now her fourth husbandCredit: Instagram/@ab_ablack2
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But Kay’s toyboy has been accused of being with her for money and a VisaCredit: YouTube/Truly
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Despite this, Kay claimed that she has “never felt love like this before”Credit: YouTube/Truly
But now, the couple have opened up on their unique relationship and explained how just three days after meeting in real life, Kay’s toyboy popped the question.
Revealing all to Truly, on an episode of Love Don’t Judge, the couple admitted that they are constantly stared at in the street and Kay has even been accused of being Ablack’s “grandma”.
Opening up about how their relationship first blossomed, Kay recognised: “He liked something I posted. He went from somebody who liked my post to my very best friend, I could tell him everything. It just kept getting stronger and stronger.”
After three failed marriages, Kay was initially “very leery about being scammed” by the youngster.
Read more real life stories
Not only was the mother called “crazy” by many, but before long, the couple had tied the knot, with Ablack being Kay’s fourth husband.
Despite falling in love, the couple constantly face judgement over their age gap, with Kay being 43 years older than Ablack.
But Kay beamed: “I do not feel old when I’m around him. I feel very young, like a teenager.”
With Ablack based in Nigeria and Kay over in the US, the pair have had to make the relationship work with the geographical distance.
However, Ablack knows that the pair are destined to be, as he acknowledged: “A prophet told me that I’m going to get married to a white woman and here she is.”
But although destiny brought them together, not everyone agrees with their relationship, as Ablack said, “Some people say, ‘she’s old enough to be your mum’. Some say, ‘you’re married to your grandma’, ‘she’s too old for you’.
I’m 20 and my man is 63 – people say he looks like Shrek and I must be in it for the money, but I’d still love him if he was a cleaner
“Anywhere we go, people take pictures of us.”
Not only this, but people have even accused Ablack of getting “married for a US green card”.
Be careful girl. Scammers can be “in love” too!
YouTube user
Clearly unfazed by the judgement, Kay, who is often referred to as Ablack’s “sugar mummy”, said: “I’ve never felt love like this before.
“This is the one I’m supposed to be with, I just had to wait a long time for him to be born.
“He treats me like a Queen. I’m his priority.”
A-list age gap relationships that have stood the test of time
Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble – 25 years The Kardashian matriarch, 69, met her younger man, 44, at a mutual friend’s 40th birthday party in Ibiza. They’ve been together since August 2014.
Sam & Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 23 years The director, 57, and actor, 34, reportedly met at a film audition in 2009, and were married by 2012. The pair share two daughters and Sam has two children from a previous marriage.
Rosie-Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham – 20 years The model, 37, started dating actor Jason, 57, in 2010. They were wed in 2016 and have since welcomed a son and a daughter together.
Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas – 25 years Catherine, 55, was introduced to Michael, 80, a film festival in 1996 and engaged three years later. Shortly after their engagement, the couple welcomed a son and married in 2000.
Social media users react
Social media users were left stunned by the couple’s age gap relationship – and nasty trolls were out in full force in the comments on the YouTube clip.
One person said: “As a middle aged woman who’s probably close to her age, this makes me uncomfortable.”
This is the one I’m supposed to be with, I just had to wait a long time for him to be born
Spice Girl’s Mel B is set to marry her soon-to-be husband Rory McPhee, at the historic London landmark three years after their engagement, but fans are wondering how they landed the swanky booking
Mel B will be having a wedding fit for a princess, at the same venue as the royals (Image: officialmelb/Instagram )
Melanie Brown, better known as Mel B, is head over heels for her soon-to-be husband as they plan to tie the knot at none other than St Paul’s Cathedral in the centre of London. The America’s Got Talent judge has already revealed some insight into her wedding planning, and she confirmed on TODAY that they will be exchanging vows at the iconic cathedral.
It’s the same spot that the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s royal wedding took place, back in 1981. While many people dream of hosting a wedding at the sought-after spot, Mel B revealed the VIP treatment that allowed her to secure the gig.
She explained that it’s thanks to her MBE title (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) that she can be wed in the historic building.
The couple got engaged in October 2022(Image: officialmelb/Instagram )
On TODAY, she shared: “I got an MBE for all my charity work that I’ve been doing. It was actually Prince William that gave me my little honorary badge. And it’s quite a big deal.
“I didn’t realise how much of a big deal it was until I started reading about it, and then I started getting really nervous. It was really lovely. So because of that, I am going to get married in the same church as Princess Diana.”
While the date of the wedding is unknown, it’s thought that St Paul’s only hosts a small amount of weddings each year, and so the couple is on the waiting list. Although one thing already ticked off the list is the ever-important wedding dress, which she has had designed by her fellow Spice Girls member.
Victoria Beckham will be designing both Mel B’s dress and her mother’s. The pop star revealed that it was an “honour” to receive it.
Princess Diana walked down the same isle on 29 July 1981(Image: Getty Images)
“I don’t think it would be fair to just have one [wedding dress]. Just have as many as you want — at least three, right?” she added. “One to actually get married in, which is the proper ceremony, very proper at this church, St Paul’s. And then maybe I want to change out of that.”
Her partner Rory McPhee is a hair stylist and businessman from Leeds and was a “family friend” of Mel’s way before the two started dating. It’s thought that the famous couple have been an item since 2018, but he popped the question back in 2022.
Thanks to his hairdressing skills, which Mel B grew fond of during her time spent in the UK, they were able to bond on a deeper level.
She confessed on TODAY: “So when I went back to England, he would come over and give me hair treatments and get my natural curls back. And as he was nurturing my curls back, I guess he was nurturing my trust and belief in a relationship.”
