According to fraud experts, these are the four types of scams you should watch out for in 2025
The UK fraud epidemic has unfortunately continued at a rapid pace in 2024, with more and more innocent victims being robbed of their money.
And with the rise of AI making fraud increasingly difficult to detect, more people could come into contact with it in the new year.
About 79 percent of the 1,200 experts surveyed by fraud prevention company GBG said they had seen a significant increase in the sophistication of scam attacks over the past year.
And 96 percent were concerned that fraudsters are increasingly using ‘industrialised’ techniques to defraud as many victims as possible.
Baz Thompson, head of fraud and research at Metro Bank, said: ‘Fraud is always evolving and with criminals now exploiting AI and machine learning, we expect scams to become increasingly sophisticated.’
Thompson warns that while there are stopgap solutions to help prevent fraud, people should be wary that they could fall victim despite companies’ actions.
Year of Opportunity: Scammers use AI technology to deceive victims
He said: ‘Our systems must continually evolve to protect our customers, but we would like to remind all consumers and businesses to be wary of anything that seems too good to be true.
“Think twice before sharing financial or personal information to help protect yourself.”
To help you stay safe, we’ve rounded up the scams people should be aware of in 2025.
Facebook marketplace scams
Tools like Facebook Marketplace can be incredibly useful in clearing out clutter or getting a good deal on a previously used item.
Especially after Christmas, many will turn to the social media site to give unwanted gifts a new home. But unfortunately, scammers are lurking.
According to Metro Bank, scammers on the site are likely to offer goods that do not actually exist.
“Over the past 12 months we have seen an increase in fraudulent traders offering goods for sale at attractive prices and then persuading customers to buy,” Metro Bank said.
Fraudulent sellers often try to entice you with offers that may be too good to be true. They will then ask you to pay by card before you pick them up, leaving you empty handed.
To avoid such scams, try paying only when you pick up the items to ensure you get what you expect.
The same goes for buyers who ask you to post items before paying, as you may never receive the promised payment.
Impersonation scam
Perhaps the most well-known scam on this list: impersonation, where fraudsters contact victims posing as “trusted” sources of information.
In many cases, this means emails, text messages, or phone calls pretending to be from the victim’s bank, the police, or delivery companies and utilities.
These scams often request payment, such as unpaid delivery fees, or personal and financial information.
As the tax return deadline approaches at the end of January, scammers are also posing as His Majesty’s tax authorities.
“HMRC scams are rife,” says Thompson. ‘Threatening calls from HMRC asking you to act quickly to pay an outstanding tax bill should be a warning sign to pause.’
The bank recommends that you contact HMRC directly if you receive such calls. You should avoid responding to the requests, sharing personal information or clicking on links.
Crypto scams are at an all-time high
Following the election of Donald Trump in the US in November, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have risen in popularity as more and more people choose to bet on the future of these tokens.
People should be wary that even established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are still high-risk investments, and so-called “meme” coins rely solely on increasing their value by attracting investors due to the internet hype.
However, scammers are also taking advantage of this rush to buy and promoting fraudulent online broker platforms, which often promise high returns.
It is essential that investors thoroughly research these tokens before purchasing, and it is best to stick to trusted platforms.
In some crypto fraud schemes, investors buy currency online, increasing its value before the scammers sell their own assets and crash the market, leaving them in the green while the victims are left with nothing.
Fraudsters are trying to deceive music fans
The summer of 2024 was packed with live events, with music and sports fans flocking to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the Paris Olympics and the European Championships.
This also provided rich profits for scammers who flogged fake tickets to these events.
Scammers will likely continue to target live events, with fans willing to spend huge amounts of money to see their favorite artists and sports teams in action.
The upcoming Oasis reunion in the summer is a good example of this.
To avoid falling victim to a scammer, those looking to buy tickets for these events should make sure they only buy tickets from verified sites – no matter how good the offer is.
While there are legitimate ticket resale websites, those offering you tickets for a sold-out tour should be treated with caution.
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