Millions are targeted by scammers

AN estimated 36 million adults have been targeted by scammers since January, according to Citizens Advice.

The charity said more than twothirds (68%) of people think they have been targeted by fraudsters this year so far.

While over-55s are most likely to be targeted, those 34 and under are nearly five times more likely to fall victim to a scam than their older counterparts, the charity found.

Younger people were most likely to be targeted by text or messaging service (61%), while those over 55 were most likely to be targeted over the phone (73%).

The bulk (54%) of scam contact was about fake deliveries or parcels, but in 41% of cases someone was pretending to be from government and 12% of scam attempts were by someone offering a fake investment or “get rich quick” scheme.

Citizens Advice said the number of scam reports to it has increased sharply.

In one case seen by Citizens Advice, an elderly man sent £240,000 to an account he thought belonged to his bank.

In another, a young woman got in touch when she lost £2,000 to a fake cryptocurrency company after receiving a message from a friend’s hacked social media account.

And in another case, a woman from Suffolk lost £750 that she had sent to a bogus dog breeder.