News
Over 40 million targeted by scammers as the cost-of-living crisis bites
Posted 13/06/22
Millions more people have been targeted by scammers as the cost-of-living crisis takes hold, new
research by Citizens Advice has found. More than three quarters of UK adults said they have
been targeted by a scammer this year - a 14% increase compared to this time last year.
The most common types of scams reported included:
鈼� Deliveries, postal or courier services (55%)
鈼� Someone pretending to be from the government or HMRC (41%)
鈼� Someone offering a fake investment or financial 鈥榞et rich quick鈥� schemes (29%)
鈼� Rebates and refunds (28%)
鈼� Banking (27%)
鈼� Online shopping (24%)
鈼� Health or medical (13%)
鈼� Energy scams (12%)
Ahead of many households receiving vital government help for the cost-of-living crisis, Citizens
Advice and the Consumer Protection Partnership have launched their annual Scams Awareness
campaign to help people protect themselves from opportunistic scammers.
Citizens Advice has seen a range of different cost-of-living scam tactics used by scammers. These
have included emails claiming to be from the regulator Ofgem asking people to enter their bank
details to get the 拢400 energy rebate, or claiming the government is giving 拢200,000 out at
random to people who are of pension age, disabled or on a low income.
鈥榃hen I checked my balance my heart dropped鈥�
Sheree, 65, lives alone and has around 拢800 a month from her private pension and Personal
Independence Payment benefit to cover her essential bills and care. She was targeted by a scam
which saw the fraudsters spend almost 拢1,000 on her card - despite her having never shopped
online.
She said: 鈥淲hen I checked my balance my heart literally dropped. I had no money, I couldn't buy
any food.
鈥淚 went to Citizens Advice, I was so distraught and really upset. I really do not know what I would
have done without the food and fuel vouchers as I don鈥檛 have anyone to ask for help.
鈥淢y bank did manage to get my money back, but the whole thing was extremely stressful. My
health really suffered over those couple of weeks as all I was doing was worrying about how I
was going to eat and pay my bills.鈥�
For information on the genuine types of help available and how you鈥檒l receive it see
and .
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
鈥淲e know scammers prey on our worries and fears and the cost-of-living crisis is no exception.
鈥淎nyone can be targeted by a scam, and as the purse strings are tightened and financial
pressures pile on, it鈥檚 more important than ever we recognise the red flags.
鈥淏y reporting scams and sharing our own experiences, we can work together to protect
ourselves and each other.鈥�
Consumer Minister, Paul Scully, said:
鈥淲hile the government is providing 拢37 billion this year to help families with the cost of living, it
is disgraceful that scammers are using the difficult times families have been facing to try and rip
them off.
鈥淚 urge everyone to report scams to Citizens Advice so we can stop these crooks in their tracks.鈥�
John Herriman, Chief Executive of 51黑料, said:
"Everyone is at risk of being scammed but the cost-of-living crisis results in more and more
consumers facing increasing levels of vulnerability. This means they face even greater risks of
being caught by unscrupulous and illegal practices by those who are intent on exploiting the
already difficult situation people find themselves in.
鈥淎t a time when the sad reality is that some are having to make choices between heating and
eating, people can be particularly vulnerable to, for example, fraudsters offering cheaper energy.
It is crucial that the public is wary of all these threats and that they contact the authorities if they
suspect any attempt to defraud them or others."
Wendy Martin, Director, National Trading Standards, said:
鈥淐riminals are exploiting people鈥檚 worries as household bills rise. Consumers are being put under
increasing pressure from a wave of scam emails and cold calls from imposters pretending to be
from councils or energy companies. We urge people never to give bank details or other personal
information to anyone who contacts them out of the blue as legitimate organisations would
never put you on the spot in this way.
鈥淲e want as many people as possible to be aware of these scams so they can protect themselves
and their families. Scams should always be reported so we can catch the criminals, and everyone
can arm themselves with the information they need to stay safe by taking part in our free Friends
Against Scams awareness training at friends against scams.org.uk.鈥�
Citizens Advice consumer expert Jane Parsons gives her five top tips to stay scam aware:
She said: 鈥淲ith the volume of scams on the rise, it鈥檚 important for us all to take steps to
safeguard ourselves and others against scams.鈥�
Jane warns it might be a scam if:
鈼� It seems too good to be true 鈥� for example, scammers pretending to be energy
companies to lure people into 鈥渢oo good to be true鈥� deals
鈼� You suspect you鈥檙e not dealing with a real company, organisation or a genuine person 鈥�
take a moment to step back and double-check
鈼� You鈥檝e been pressured to transfer money quickly
鈼� You鈥檝e been asked to pay in an unusual way 鈥� like by an iTunes vouchers or a transfer
service
鈼� You鈥檝e been asked to give away personal information such as passwords, PINs or other
verification codes.
If you鈥檝e been scammed:
鈼� Talk to your bank or card company immediately if you鈥檝e handed over any financial and
sensitive information or made a payment
鈼� Report the scam to Citizens Advice. Offline scams, like telephone, post and doorstep, to
the Citizens Advice website or by calling 0808 223 1133. Report online scams to the
dedicated Scams Action service either online or on 0808 250 5050
鈼� Text scams can be reported to your mobile phone provider by forwarding it to 7726
鈼� Also report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
-ends-
For more information contact: [email protected]
Tel: 03000 231080
Out-of-hours contact number: 0845 099 0107
We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward -
whoever they are, and whatever their problem.
Notes to editors:
1. Yonder Data solutions surveyed a representative sample of 2,088 adults living in the UK.
The sample was weighted to be nationally representative of the UK. Fieldwork took place
between 18 and 19 May 2022. Polling respondents were asked the following questions:
a. Since the beginning of the year (1 January 2022), have you been contacted by
anyone that you think was trying to scam you? 1,616 out of 2,088 respondents
(77%) said they had been contacted by someone that they think was trying to
scam them, this included 5% who said they had been scammed.
Using the Annual Population Survey estimates via Nomis of 53,200,000 adults
(18+) in the UK, we estimate that this has affected 41 million people
b. What kind of scam were you targeted by? Please specify all that apply
(respondents could have ticked multiple answers): Deliveries, postal and courier
services; Government or HMRC; Investment or financial; Rebates and refunds;
Banking; Online shopping; Health or medical; Online dating / relationship; Energy;
Pension; Pets; Employment; Other
2. Scams Awareness is an annual campaign which aims to create a network of confident,
alert consumers who know what to do when they see a scam. This year's campaign will
take place over two weeks, from the 13 -26 June. The campaign includes a range of
organisations across the Consumer Protection Partnership, including Trading Standards,
the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Citizens Advice
Scotland.
3. Citizens Advice is made up of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of
independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice
consumer service; and the Witness Service.
4. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
5. For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808
223 1144 to talk in Welsh.
