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Scammers are constantly developing new ways to trick people out of their money and personal information. However, there are a few common scams that you should be aware of, especially if you live in the UK.

According to a recent survey, over 70% of Britons have been targeted by scams in the past year. The most common scams are phishing, trusted organisation scams, and refund scams.

Here is a more detailed overview of the top 5 scams to be aware of in the UK in 2023:

1. Phishing scams (37% of Brits targeted)

Phishing scams are fake emails, calls, messages, or websites that seem to be from legitimate organisations. Scammers often use phishing scams to steal personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and social security numbers.

Here are some tips to help you identify phishing scams:

• Be wary of unsolicited emails, calls, or messages from unknown senders.
• Don’t click on links in emails or messages unless you are sure they are legitimate.
• If you are unsure whether an email or message is legitimate, contact the organisation directly.

2. Trusted organisation scams (21%)

Trusted organisation scams are when criminals impersonate trusted organisations such as HMRC, energy companies, or service providers. Scammers may call, email, or send messages claiming that you owe money or that you need to update your account information.

Here are some tips to help you identify trusted organisation scams:

• Be wary of unsolicited calls, emails, or messages from trusted organisations.
• Don’t give out your personal or banking information over the phone or email.
• If you are unsure whether a call, email, or message is legitimate, contact the organisation directly.

3. Refund scams (13%)

Refund scams are when criminals impersonate trusted organisations telling you that you’re due a refund and asking to share your personal or banking information. Scammers may claim that you are due a refund for a product or service that you never purchased, or that you have overpaid for a bill.

Here are some tips to help you identify refund scams:

• Be wary of unsolicited calls, emails, or messages offering refunds.
• Don’t give out your personal or banking information in order to receive a refund.
• If you are unsure whether a refund offer is legitimate, contact the organisation directly.

4. Friend or family scams (12%)

Friend or family scams are when messages sent to your phone or via social media claiming to be someone you know asking for money urgently to pay bills. Scammers may claim that they have lost their wallet or phone and need money to get home, or that they have been in an accident and need money to pay for medical expenses.

Here are some tips to help you identify friend or family scams:

• Be wary of unsolicited messages from friends or family members asking for money.
• Verify the identity of the person asking for money by calling them directly or asking for a photo.
• Do not send money to someone you cannot verify.

5. Get rich quick scams (9%)

Get rich quick scams are when criminals claim that you’ll make money quickly by investing in a company or goods. Scammers may offer investments in stocks, cryptocurrency, or real estate. They may also offer to sell you goods at a discounted price.

Here are some tips to help you identify get rich quick scams:

• Be wary of any investment opportunity that promises high returns with little risk.
• Do your research before investing in any company or product.
• Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay upfront fees.