Santander UK has issued a stark warning to parents as data reveals that £160,000 has been stolen through 'Hi Dad' impersonation scams so far this year. The bank is urging vigilance ahead of Father's Day on Sunday, June 21.
How the Scam Works
Fraudsters target potential victims via text messages or AI-generated phone calls, pretending to be their child requesting money or asking them to make a payment. This type of fraud is known as authorised push payment (APP) scams, where people are tricked into sending money to criminals.
Santander's Scamtracker Data
Santander's quarterly 'scamtracker' report, which monitors volumes, values, and trends in APP scams, found that men handed over the equivalent of £100,000 to scammers every day during the first six months of the year. The largest losses by value came from investment and purchase scams.
Expert Advice
Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, said: 'As a parent myself, I know how busy life gets – juggling kids, work and a social life – and fraudsters often target people when they know they might not have time to properly consider what they're being asked to do.'
He added: 'Whether it's an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, or a text or phone call out of the blue from your child asking for money, we are urging people to stay alert and stay safe ahead of this Father's Day.'
