Lloyds Bank has warned that victims of impersonation scams lost £3,516 on average over the past year, a 10% increase compared with a typical loss of £3,200 a year earlier. The bank’s analysis covers scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers between July 1 2025 and June 30 2026, compared with the previous 12 months.
How impersonation scams start
Impersonation scams often begin with a phone call, text, email or social media message. In police and bank scams, victims may be told their money is at risk and asked to move it to a “safe account”. In some cases, criminals tell victims their own bank is involved in fraud, then coach them to lie if a genuine member of bank staff asks why they are moving money.
HMRC scams can involve messages about tax refunds to persuade people to click on a link and enter personal or financial details. Victims of HMRC impersonation scams lost £2,288 on average over the past year, Lloyds said.
Broadband and mobile provider scams
Broadband and mobile provider scams involve claims of issues with a bill, contract or internet connection, before asking for personal details or payment. The average amount lost to broadband and mobile provider impersonation scams is £1,169, according to Lloyds.
Liz Ziegler, a fraud prevention director at Lloyds, which has branches in Birmingham, said: “Summer can be an expensive time of year, with many people focused on managing their finances around holidays, family days out and other seasonal costs. Fraudsters know money is often at the top of people’s minds and use convincing stories about account issues, refunds or urgent payments to pressure people into acting quickly.”
Advice from Lloyds
Ziegler added: “A scam message is designed to rush you. It will make you feel you need to act straight away or keep things secret.” She said if people are unsure about a phone call claiming to be from a bank, police or another organisation, they should end the call and contact the organisation directly using a trusted number.
The warning follows a separate report that UK number plate changes from September 1 could see drivers risking a £1,000 fine. Lloyds’ figures highlight the growing financial impact of impersonation fraud on consumers across the UK.
