2025 Scam Trends: How Emerging Fraud Tactics Will Impact Consumers
In an alarming revelation, Santander UK has disclosed critical insights from its first-ever Quarterly Scamtracker, showing that a staggering £18.4 million was lost to scams in the first quarter of 2025. While this marks a 13% decrease from the prior quarter, the persistent high figures indicate an evolving threat landscape, with new scam trends complicating the situation.
Key Findings from Santander UK’s Quarterly Scamtracker
The report highlights the most prevalent types of scams threatening consumers today:
- Impersonation Scams
- Advance Fee Scams
- Romance/Friendship Scams
These three categories alone contributed nearly £3.5 million to the overall amount stolen. Interestingly, despite 63% of consumers being aware of romance and friendship scams, only 17% are familiar with advance fee scams, revealing a significant gap in public knowledge.
Trends in Purchase Scams
Despite a 17% decline since the last quarter, purchase scams still represent over half of all scam claims, with a concerning £3.5 million lost. The report also identifies a niche trend: gig tickets for popular artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Coldplay are increasingly being targeted by scammers, accounting for more than 10% of purchase scam claims.
Expert Insights on Scamming Trends
Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, expressed deep concern regarding the rapid evolution of scams, which complicates consumers’ ability to protect themselves. He pointed out the disturbing increase in fake sportswear advertisements on platforms like Facebook, which deceived 450 customers.
Ainsley emphasized the necessity of providing customers with vital information to help them combat scammers. “While a decrease in the amount stolen by scammers is welcome, £18 million remains a staggering sum that has been directed into the criminal underworld,” he noted.
Demographic-Specific Trends
The report also sheds light on how different age groups are affected by scams:
- Customers aged 80+: 7% increase in scam incidents, primarily due to bank impersonations.
- 18-34 age group: 6% rise, largely driven by concert ticket purchase scams.
Ongoing Commitment to Consumer Protection
Santander UK plans to continue releasing this quarterly report to monitor changing scam tactics and to offer tailored advice to various consumer demographics. For more information on how to protect yourself from scams, visit Santander’s Scam Awareness page.
For additional reading on fraud prevention, check out this Action Fraud resource.
