Guides covering recovery scams, impersonation fraud, and other scam patterns targeting UK consumers.
Charity scams impersonate real charities or create fake ones to trick donors into sending money that never reaches those in need. Scammers use emotional appeals, fake websites, and convincing emails to steal donations—sometimes thousands of pounds.
Recovery scams target people who have already lost money to fraud, promising to retrieve their funds for an upfront fee. Scammers impersonate legitimate refund companies, lawyers, or financial investigators to gain trust and extract payment.
Scammers access or create WhatsApp accounts and message your contacts pretending to be a family member with a new phone number. They quickly build trust before asking for urgent financial help, often citing emergencies like hospital bills or legal problems.
How verification-code scams work on marketplaces and why you should never hand over one-time codes to strangers.