Christmas can be a lonely and isolating time of year for many people. Unfortunately, criminals can use this against us, taking advantage of the emotions of the season to steal people’s money and information.

Data from our recent survey found that over half (58%) of people in the UK feel lonely at least sometimes, potentially putting them at risk of fraud. Isolation can make people prime targets for fraudsters who attempt to befriend and manipulate them into passing on personal and financial information.

Impersonation and romance scams are particularly harmful methods of stealing money. Criminals will pretend to be someone they are not, offering friendship, romance or help with your bills. In these scams, they will spend hours researching you and use this information to gain your trust or befriend you. More than half (53%) of people surveyed admitted to being at least somewhat trusting of strangers or people they don’t know, a trait that scammers will exploit to gain access to personal and financial information.

In our recent survey, nearly 1 in 4 people (24%) said they don’t have someone in their life that they would talk to if they thought someone was trying to scam them. Not having a trusted person in our lives to sense check things with can increase our susceptibility to fraud. In addition, almost a quarter (23%) of people worryingly said that they have clicked a link, provided personal information or made a payment in response to an unexpected request from someone who later turned out to not be who they claimed to be.

In the run up to Christmas, we’re urging everyone to follow the Take Five advice to ‘Stop, Challenge and Protect’ when faced with requests for personal or financial information:

• • STOP: Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Ask yourself, could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or on 0330 123 2040.

“Loneliness is a deeply personal and often invisible struggle that can leave people feeling longing for connection, especially during the festive season. Scammers can exploit this vulnerability, pretending to offer friendship or romance while working to steal from their victims.

 

“It’s a cruel betrayal of trust that can have devastating effects. We urge everyone to be cautious when interacting with strangers online or over the phone and to look out for others who may be feeling lonely.”

 

– Professor Andrea Wigfield, Co-Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness

To protect yourself from scams this Christmas, we’re asking people to take a moment to stop and think whenever they are asked money or financial information. We’re also encouraging everyone to look out for vulnerable friends, neighbours, or family members who may be at risk. And always remember to Stop, Challenge and Protect.

Find out more about impersonation scams and romance scams on our advice pages.

If you or someone you know is experiencing loneliness, you can find out how to get support at the Campaign to End Loneliness.