Tag: scams
Scam ads surge online – celebrity ‘endorsements’ and deep fakes to blame
Example of a celebrity scam ad featuring Stacey Solomon The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued a warning about the rise of scam ads online, revealing key trends observed in 2024. The ASA's Scam Ad Alert system, in partnership with major online platforms, has been actively combating these deceptive ads,…
Which? reveals Top 5 brands impersonated by scammers in the UK
Home delivery companies Amazon, DHL, Evri, Royal Mail and UPS are the top five brands impersonated by scammers targeting the UK. And with Christmas fast approaching, Which? is warning shoppers to expect a flurry of fake texts and emails. Which? teamed up with the DNS Research Federation (DNSRF), an Oxford-based non-profit, to explore the worst-hit brands when…
5 online scams – and how to avoid them
Research shows that almost three in four UK adults have fallen victim to scams¹. With crime rates rising alongside the cost of living crisis², the experts at Independent Advisor VPN share how to spot, and avoid, online scams. James Milin-Ashmore at Independent Advisor VPN comments: “It’s clear to see that the cost of living crisis has driven a…
How to get Glastonbury 2024 tickets and not get scammed
The stage is set. After a two-week delay, Brits will finally have the chance to bag their tickets for Glastonbury tomorrow (Sunday, November 19th) at 9am. However, with the battle to buy tickets set to be fiercer than ever, music fans will need to be on the ball for a chance of getting a spot…
Scammers profited over $658 million from social media users in H1 2023
According to data presented by the Atlas VPN team, social media scams earned fraudsters an astounding $658M just in H1 2023, exponentially higher than any other contact method. Compared to 2022, total reported fraud losses increased by $50M (from $608M). In all, 83,302 fraud instances originating from social media were recorded in the first half of 2023. The total number of social media fraud…
Americans lost nearly $4 billion to investment scams in 2022
Over the past few years, investment scams have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, taking advantage of the rise of digital technologies. According to data analyzed by the Atlas VPN team, Americans were scammed out of $3.8 billion through fraudulent investment opportunities. Compared to 2021, the amount of losses has grown by 116%. Many of these scams…
The 12 Scams of Christmas
Every year, scammers take the opportunity to target consumers shopping online around the Christmas period with new and old scams. This leaves people increasingly vulnerable. Together with James Walker, CEO of consumer data action service Rightly, we identify and explore twelve common scams that pop up at Christmas and explain what consumers should look out…
Ofcom plans crackdown on fake number scams
UK phone companies will make it harder for fraudsters to use their networks for fake number scams, under a range of measures proposed by Ofcom today. Almost 45 million people were targeted by scam calls and texts last summer. Criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and nearly a million of these consumers followed the scammers’ instructions, risking…
Delivery scam text links on rise again – and they’re more difficult to spot
Scam text messaging (smishing) is on the rise again as GCHQ warns that companies using shortened or unclear web links are making it more difficult for the public to spot the offenders. As part of measures to get tough on fraudsters, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, has published new advice for…
Scam victims suffer £9.3bn well-being hit in a year, Which? research finds
Scams, like this text message pretending to be from the Royal Mail, are increasingly commonplace Scam victims in the UK suffer a hit to their well-being that can be calculated at £9.3bn a year, new research from Which? has found. Which? launched a new study amid concerns that the full impact…
