One in five UK consumers have been scammed

More than two thirds (67%) of UK adults say they have been targeted by a scam or fraud and more than one in five (22%) have had money stolen, according to new data[i] released today by National Trading Standards (NTS), which has launched a new app to help the nation fight fraud and scams.

With fraud now being the most common type of crime in the UK^[ii], new research^[iii] also shows that 60% of UK adults lack confidence in at least one aspect of money management (such as budgeting, managing their money online, or dealing with finance companies like their bank or insurer^[iv]). Those lacking confidence in three or more aspects are twice as likely to have had money stolen through a scam or fraud in the last year and were also most likely to have become victims of investment, crypto and doorstep scams, where they were targeted on the phone or face-to-face.

With criminal tactics becoming ever more sophisticated, only one in five Brits (19%) are ‘very confident’ they could spot a scam. Overall, younger people are most likely to have been a victim (31% of 18-24s and 34% of 25-34s), and with 80% of adults agreeing there should be more education on fraud in school and throughout life, NTS is calling for fraud and scams to be covered in more depth in school curriculums to improve the nation’s resilience against these crimes.

Today, NTS is launching a free app that will make it easier for people to protect themselves using their phone. The app includes scam alerts, practical prevention tips, clear advice on what to do if targeted and signposts to trusted sources of help. People will also have free access to NTS’ scam-fighting training on their phone, helping them to protect themselves and their loved ones.

As part of its own efforts to build resilience among younger people, NTS is working with education partners to create lesson plans and assemblies for 11–16-year-olds which will be rolled out early in 2026.

Alongside its own efforts, NTS is urging the government to:

1. Recognise how low financial literacy and confidence can affect victims: Acknowledge that a lack of financial literacy can make people more susceptible to scams, adapt fraud prevention messaging and provide extra support to victims who need it.
2. Integrate financial literacy and fraud awareness efforts: Schools should ensure that they are educating pupils on financial literacy and how scams work.
3. Tackle widespread myths about fraud: Ensure fraud awareness campaigns acknowledge how common fraud is among younger people and develop campaigns to reach them. Raise awareness of the sophisticated tactics criminals use.
4. Adopt a ‘no blame, no shame’ attitude towards fraud: Fraud and scams are sophisticated and can affect anyone. Criminals, not victims are to blame.

Louise Baxter, Head of the NTS Scams Team, said:

“Although scams can affect anyone, our research has highlighted that low financial literacy and confidence leaves some people at extra risk of being a victim, and of suffering more severe effects from these crimes. Fraud criminals are becoming more sophisticated and we are setting society up to fail if we don’t equip people with the knowledge they need to steer clear of scams. That’s why we’re calling on the government to do more, starting with better fraud education for children and adults. We also want to see an end to the victim-blaming language so often used around scams that sees people ashamed, embarrassed and afraid to report.”

Abigail Foster, Founder, Elent Financial Education, said:

"Young people are now among the most targeted groups, yet most of us were never taught how scams actually work. Improving financial education in schools and giving people accessible tools like the NTS app is essential if we want to build real resilience against fraud.”

To download the app, visit https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ or search for ‘Friends Against Scams’ in the App Store and Google Play.

ENDS