Online Scammers Don't Take Christmas Holidays - How much money is lost to online fraud and scams in the UK

5th December 2025

According to a recent report, UK consumers lost an estimated £9.4 billion to scams over a 12‑month period.

Another major data set shows that in 2024, total reported fraud losses (across various types, many of them online) reached £2.3 billion, up 6% from 2023.

The banking industry body UK Finance reports that in 2024 there were 3.13 million confirmed cases of unauthorised fraud, resulting in £722 million in losses.

Additional fraud through "authorised push payments" (APP scams), remote purchase scams and investment/"push‑payment" scams adds significant further losses — these remain among the most common and damaging types of online fraud.

Every year, billions of pounds are lost by UK individuals through online scams or fraudulent payments — the real total likely exceeds published figures because many scams go unreported.

Who is getting scammed — age groups & demographic patterns

Scams and fraud in the UK don't affect just one demographic. Here's how different age groups are impacted:

According to a recent report, younger people — notably 18-24 year‑olds (Gen Z) are among the most targeted. Over a 12‑month period, 55% of 18-24 year olds reported being approached by scammers; and among those, many suffered financial loss or know someone who did.

In the same research, people aged 18–34 had far more exposure to online marketplace and social‑media scams than older age groups.

On the other hand older adults remain a major group of concern: charities and organisations supporting older people report that those aged 65+ are often targeted for identity fraud, account takeovers, investment scams, and "charity" or “help‑me” scams, exploiting perceived vulnerability, savings, and trust.

A 2025 survey of 8–17‑year-olds by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) found that nearly half have experienced online scams, and a non-trivial share had lost money.

So both younger adults and children/teenagers and *older adults (retirees or near retirement) are vulnerable, though often to different kinds of scams (social‑media/marketplace scams vs investment/financial‑fraud/identity‑theft).

Why the problem is growing

Fraudsters are adapting and becoming more sophisticated — and several social/technological trends make scams more effective:

Fake parcel‑delivery texts, social‑media marketplace fraud, and AI‑powered impersonation (voice‑cloning, deepfake‑style scams) have surged.

The structure of online payments and fast payment systems, plus widespread internet use, make it easier for criminals to exploit victims across all ages.

Many victims do not report scams — because of embarrassment, believing nothing can be done, or not realising what happened — so the true scale of money lost may be significantly higher than official statistics.

How you can protect yourself and loved ones

Here are practical steps everyone in the UK can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to online fraud:

Be cautious with urgent or “too good to be true” offers — fake delivery notifications, social‑media marketplace deals, or investment pitches promising quick returns often signal scams.

Use secure payment methods — where possible, use credit cards, PayPal, or payment methods with buyer protection; avoid bank transfers for unknown sellers or “private deals.”

Double-check identity of people/organisations contacting you and be sceptical of unexpected calls, texts or emails claiming to be from banks, government, benefit providers, or delivery firms. Use official contact channels to verify.

Keep financial account access secure and enable two‑factor authentication on online banking, email, and payment apps; avoid re‑using passwords; monitor accounts regularly.

Teach younger and older family members about scams. Children and teens should learn to question suspicious links or requests; older adults often benefit from support from family or trusted friends when making financial decisions.

Report suspected scams promptly and use your bank’s fraud hotlines, or national services like Action Fraud (for UK) to report. Reporting helps authorities track criminals and prevent others from being targeted.

Be especially careful around investment and “get-rich-quick” schemes as fraudsters often promise high returns with minimal risk, especially around crypto or “too good to be true” funds. Research thoroughly, and treat unusually high-return promises as a major red flag.

Tens of billions of pounds are lost to scams and fraud each year in the UK — even conservative official estimates run into the billions annually.

Vulnerability is not limited to one age group — both younger people (including teens) and older people are being targeted, though often for different scam types.

The risk continues to grow, as criminals exploit technology, social‑media, and fast payment systems.

But individuals can significantly reduce their risk — through vigilance, safe payment practices, secure account habits, and reporting.

Recent real‑world examples of online fraud & scams in the UK

Cifas / Global Anti‑Scam Alliance (GASA) estimate — £11.4 billion lost in 12 months
Their 2024 “State of Scams” report found that victims across the UK lost roughly £11.4 billion over a 12‑month period, with an average loss per scam of about £1,400.

This reflects broad‑based fraud — from bogus purchases to investment scams — and underscores how large and widespread the problem is.

Online marketplace scams — fake goods, fake sellers, “pay first, then disappear”
According to recent research by Experian, nearly 37% of people in the UK have encountered a scam on an online marketplace. Among those, some lost modest amounts (£51–£100), while others lost larger sums (over £250, in some cases over £1,000). Fake or counterfeit products made up about a third of these scams; many victims paid by bank transfer — a method with little protection if the seller disappears.

Common platforms where scams occur: Facebook Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop, Vinted, plus smaller resale/trade apps.

“Remote‑purchase fraud” / card theft & unauthorised online purchases
According to UK Finance, 2024 saw a surge in “remote purchase fraud” — where criminals trick victims into revealing card‑ or authentication‑codes (for example via phishing, fake websites or bogus texts), then use those to make unauthorised online purchases. That year there were millions of cases — around 7,000 incidents every day — totalling roughly £1.2 billion stolen through this route.

Parcel‑delivery / “redelivery fee” scams (“spray and pay” / fake courier notifications)
As the recent festive/Black‑Friday period approaches, there’s been a sharp rise in scams where fraudsters send “delivery failed / redelivery fee” texts or e-mails — prompting recipients to click a link, pay a small fee, or supply card or personal info. One firm, Evri, reportedly received 10,000 such scam reports between November 2024 and January 2025. Victims who pay are often exposed to card fraud, malware or identity theft.

Investment / crypto‑style fraud (fake “opportunities,” high‑return promises, “pig‑butchering” scams)
One rising scam type is what researchers call “pig‑butchering” or long‑con investment fraud: criminals build trust over time (sometimes via romance‑style contacts, social media, or false testimonials), persuade victims to invest increasingly large sums (often into crypto, fake funds or bogus assets), then disappear when the victim tries to withdraw. A recent academic study estimated hundreds of millions in losses worldwide via such scams — many UK victims included.

For example, fraudsters may pose as “investment coaches” on social media, offering easy profits — then request upfront payments or push “one‑time-only” investment windows. Once money is transferred, the platform or contact vanishes or becomes uncontactable.

Romance / “relationship‑based” fraud leading to large losses
Another example — covered in recent reporting — is “romance scams,” where victims are emotionally manipulated into trusting a scammer who poses as a love interest (often via social media or dating sites). Once trust is built, the scammer requests money — sometimes repeatedly and often large sums. In 2025, UK victims reportedly lost hundreds of millions of pounds to romance‑fraud scams.

What these examples show — the patterns, and why they succeed

From these cases we can draw some common themes:

Scams often rely on urgency, emotion or trust — whether it’s a “too good to be true” purchase, a romantic connection, or a supposedly limited-time investment opportunity.

Fake or hardened‑to‑look‑real websites, texts or adverts — often replicating logos, brands or courier firms — make scams look legitimate.

Payment methods with little protection — bank transfers, giving card/passcodes directly — are common because they’re hard to reverse, making them attractive to scammers.

Incremental manipulation — especially in investment / “pig‑butchering” scams — where small initial gains lure victims into investing larger amounts.

Wide targeting — scammers don’t just go for one demographic. Young people (via online marketplaces), older people (via investments or romance scams), and almost everyone in between can be targeted.

What people can learn — how to spot and avoid these scams

From these examples, here’s a checklist of what to watch out for, and how to protect yourself:

Be very sceptical of “too good to be true” deals — e.g. items much cheaper than market value, free delivery “deals,” big returns on investments.

Avoid bank transfers when buying from unknown sellers (especially via social‑media marketplaces); use payment methods with buyer protection (credit card, PayPal “Goods & Services,” etc.).

Be cautious about unsolicited contacts — especially from people you don’t know (on social media, dating apps, or “investment coaches”). Don’t send money before verifying identity or legitimacy.

Don’t click on links from suspicious texts/emails claiming to be delivery firms — contact the courier directly via their official website or number.

For investments: research thoroughly — check company registration, independent reviews, and be alert to pressure to invest quickly or keep investment secret.

Use security safeguards — two‑factor authentication, strong passwords, regular bank‑statement checks, bank- or card‑fraud notifications.

Report suspected scams to official bodies (eg. via Action Fraud) or your bank — even if you think you lost only a small amount — to help track and stop scammers.