Lloyds Bank has issued a warning that victims of impersonation scams are now losing £3,516 on average, a 10% increase compared with a typical loss of £3,200 a year earlier. The bank, which has branches in Birmingham, said the scams range from HMRC impersonation to broadband and utility supplier impersonation.
Scam tactics and typical losses
Impersonation scams often begin with a phone call, text, email or social media message that looks genuine. In police and bank scams, victims are told their money is at risk and asked to move it to a so-called 'safe account'. In some cases, criminals tell victims their own bank is involved in fraud, then coach them to lie if a genuine bank worker asks why they are moving money.
HMRC scams typically entice people with messages about tax refunds to persuade them to click a link and enter personal or financial details. Victims of HMRC impersonation scams lost £2,288 on average over the past year.
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 was £1,169.
Amazon scam losses and fraudster pressure
Victims of Amazon impersonation scams lost £1,180 on average, most commonly to messages that encourage people to click on links and enter personal details, to release a fictitious package.
Liz Ziegler, a fraud prevention director at Lloyds, 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 to avoid rushing
She added: “A scam message is designed to rush you. It will make you feel you need to act straight away or keep things secret.”
The bank’s warning highlights the growing financial impact of impersonation scams, with average losses rising across multiple categories. Customers are urged to verify any unexpected contact independently and never move money or share personal details under pressure.
