Scam-tember: Three in Five Brits fear falling victim to fraud, as life gets busier in September

• Half of people say they feel busier when coming back from a holiday
• Almost a third (31%) of people have received scam attempts this summer

Take Five to Stop Fraud is warning the public to stay alert to fraud as the common ‘back to the grind’ feeling in September could make them more susceptible to fraud.

Post-holiday busyness in September can sometimes mean our focus is shifted to multiple things, heightening the risk of missing fraudulent attempts. New data from the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign has found that half of people (50%) say they feel busier when coming back from a holiday. A third said that being busy makes them more likely to take a chance on a cheap deal or financial offer (34%) and were also more likely to lose focus or fail to check the details of a communication they receive (46%), all of which could potentially put them at risk of fraud.

Three in five people (59%) state that they are concerned about falling victim to fraud with almost a third of people (31%) reporting to have received an attempted scam over the summer, with one in eight people (12%) receiving two or more.

Speaking about the research findings, Paul Maskall from the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign said:

“We know that being busy and distracted can often mean we are more susceptible to criminals’ fraud attempts. September is a busy time for people as they get back to their daily lives and therefore it’s important to remind ourselves to be alert to fraudsters and to stop and challenge requests that don’t feel right. After all, criminals are experts at pretending to be a person or organisation we trust and sometimes try to rush or panic us. My best tip is to follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and stop and think if someone asks for your money or personal information.”

In addition, the Take Five research shows that we aren’t just concerned about ourselves becoming victims. Over three fifths (61%) of those polled are worried about their friends and family members becoming vulnerable to fraud when they’re busy or distracted.

Revealing the importance of finding time to stop with friends and family, the research revealed respondents felt most comfortable speaking to a spouse (41%) or a friend (27%) about unexpected requests for money or personal information. To support this, Take Five is hosting a series of three pop-up events where people are encouraged to take a moment to stop and think.

The pop-ups in busy spots in London, Manchester and Glasgow invite people to use mind-reading technology to pour a drink. To do so effectively, they will be challenged to take a moment, clear their mind and focus on what’s in front of them, showing the power of stopping and thinking.

Renowned trickster Harry Clark, winner of TV smash hit The Traitors, will be at the London event at King’s Cross station to give tips to the public on how to avoid falling for scams, particularly when people are at their busiest.

Harry Clark said:

“Criminals are experts at tricking people into thinking they are trustworthy. While I’ve had some success tricking people on TV, I’ve also been a victim of fraud and know how serious the impact can be. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Take Five to Stop Fraud to help inform everyone on how they can stay safe. Taking a moment to stop and think when faced with a request for money or information really can keep you safe”. 

To help people stay safe, the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign advice is to:

• STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

• CHALLENGE: 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 fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

Find out more at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.