Lloyds Bank has issued a stark warning to customers after revealing the scale of fraud losses in 2025, with victims reporting average losses of £436 each.
Social media: The primary hunting ground for fraudsters
The banking giant's data shows that social media platforms have become the epicentre for fraudulent activity. Liz Ziegler, the bank's Fraud Prevention Director, stated bluntly that these sites are "infested with fraudsters and scam content." A staggering 90% of scams involving Oasis tour tickets were found to have originated on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
This type of ticket fraud proved particularly costly, with victims losing around £200 more than the average concert ticket scam. The most significant single loss reported to the bank in 2025 exceeded £1,700.
Driving test scams see alarming 240% surge
While vehicle and ticket scams dominated the overall number of reports, it was fraud related to driving lessons and tests that recorded the most dramatic increase. The bank noted a sharp year-on-year rise of over 240% in this category.
Ms Ziegler linked this surge to high demand and long waiting times for official tests, which made learners more vulnerable to fake social media adverts. "We alerted people to driving lesson and test scams earlier this year, when we started to see reports climb," she said.
How to protect yourself from financial fraud
With major events like the FIFA World Cup and concerts from stars like Calvin Harris and Robbie Williams on the horizon, Lloyds warns that ticket scammers will be "out in force." The bank's advice is clear and consistent:
- Always purchase tickets from authorised, reputable platforms. This is the only way to guarantee a genuine ticket.
- Be extremely wary of unsolicited offers on social media or requests to pay via bank transfer, as these are strong indicators of a scam.
- For driving lessons, always use a certified instructor and be suspicious of adverts offering suspiciously cheap deals or pressuring you with time-limited offers.
Other common fraud types identified by the bank include scams for clothes, accessories, and personal items like makeup and hair extensions. The key message from Lloyds as the new year approaches is for the public to remain vigilant and to question deals that seem too good to be true, especially when encountered on social media.
