Current UK Scams — 2026
Scammers update their tactics to exploit current events, emerging technologies, and seasonal patterns. This page covers the scams most actively targeting UK residents right now, along with the warning signs and what to do.
If you have spotted a scam not listed here, report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk. Reports from the public help track and disrupt criminal networks.
The Top UK Scams in 2026
1. AI Voice Cloning Scams ("Virtual Kidnap" and Impersonation)
Criminals use AI tools to clone the voice of a family member, friend, or colleague from audio posted online. The call sounds completely convincing — it may sound exactly like your child, parent, or employer. Common scenarios: a "family member" in a sudden emergency needs money urgently; a "boss" asking for an urgent bank transfer; a "bank representative" who sounds completely genuine.
Warning signs
- ⚠️Extreme urgency
- ⚠️Caller discourages you from hanging up or calling back
- ⚠️Request for immediate bank transfer or gift card payment
What to do
Hang up. Call the person back directly using a number you already have. Agree a family code word for emergencies — something that cannot be guessed from social media.
2. Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams
"Guaranteed return" investment opportunities promoted via social media, email, or messaging apps — often with fake celebrity endorsements. Your money is taken and the platform disappears.
Warning signs
- ⚠️Unsolicited contact
- ⚠️Guaranteed or unusually high returns
- ⚠️Pressure to invest quickly
- ⚠️Request for cryptocurrency payment
- ⚠️Celebrity or influencer endorsement (which is faked)
What to do
Never invest based on social media promotion alone. Check any financial firm at register.fca.org.uk before engaging. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
3. Purchase Scams (Buy Now, Never Receive)
Fake listings on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay, and Vinted. The seller takes payment — often requesting bank transfer rather than platform payment — then disappears or delivers a worthless substitute.
Warning signs
- ⚠️Price significantly lower than elsewhere
- ⚠️Seller wants bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment outside the platform
- ⚠️Unusual communication style or stock photos used for listings
What to do
Always pay through the platform's buyer protection system. Never pay by bank transfer to a private seller you have not met in person and verified.
4. Courier and Impersonation Fraud
You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank or the police, saying your account has been compromised. They ask you to withdraw cash for "safekeeping" and a courier comes to collect it. This is always fraud.
Warning signs
- ⚠️Your bank and the police will never ask you to do this. Ever.
What to do
Hang up immediately. Call your bank using the number on the back of your card — from a different phone if possible, or wait 10 minutes before calling back to ensure the line is clear.
5. HMRC Tax Scam Calls and Texts
Criminals impersonate HMRC claiming unpaid tax, a refund due, or legal action. They use threatening language and demand immediate payment — often requesting gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a bank transfer.
What to do
HMRC does not demand immediate payment by phone, text, or email, and does not request gift cards. Put the phone down or delete the message. Report at gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing.
6. Job Offer Scams
Fake job advertisements on LinkedIn, Indeed, and job boards. The "employer" requests personal documents, your National Insurance number, or bank details before any employment begins — or asks for an upfront payment for training materials.
Warning signs
- ⚠️Job offered without a proper interview
- ⚠️Upfront payment requested
- ⚠️Request for bank details before a contract is signed
- ⚠️Communication only by messaging app rather than email
7. Pension Scams
Unsolicited contact offering to "unlock" your pension early (before the minimum pension access age), transfer it to a better-performing fund, or offer unusually high returns. Many victims lose their entire life savings.
What to do
Any unsolicited pension contact should be treated as a scam. Check the Pension Scams Industry Group at scorecard.pensions-scams.com. Never transfer a pension based on an unsolicited recommendation.
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Start for free →How to Protect Yourself — Five Universal Rules
These habits protect against most scams, regardless of type:
- Take your time — urgency is the scammer's most powerful tool. A real problem will still be real in 10 minutes.
- Verify independently — never use contact details from the message. Look up the real number yourself.
- Check the FCA register before any financial transaction with an unfamiliar firm: register.fca.org.uk
- Pay through protected methods — credit card or platform payment systems offer far more protection than bank transfer
- Report everything — your report helps Action Fraud identify patterns and warn others
How to Report a Scam
| What to report | Where to report |
|---|---|
| Email or text scam | Forward to report@phishing.gov.uk or 7726 |
| Phone or voice scam | actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 |
| HMRC impersonation | gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing |
| Investment or pension scam | FCA at fca.org.uk/scamsmart |
| Online purchase scam | Action Fraud + the selling platform directly |
| Bank or financial fraud | Your bank (immediately) + Action Fraud |
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a scam in the UK?
Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and suspicious texts to 7726.
What is the most common scam in the UK right now?
Purchase scams (particularly on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree), investment and cryptocurrency scams, and impersonation fraud (HMRC, banks, police) are consistently the most reported. AI voice cloning is a rapidly growing threat in 2026.
Can I get my money back if I have been scammed?
Contact your bank immediately — they may be able to recall the payment if you act quickly. Under the UK Contingent Reimbursement Model (effective 2024), banks are often required to refund victims of authorised push payment fraud. Also report to Action Fraud.