Types of Fraud

Quick answer: Fraudsters have different tricks for stealing money and information. They may pretend to be someone you trust or try to sell you fake goods. Most fraud starts online, so watch out for scam emails and social media quizzes.

Fraud is a major problem in the UK, making up about 41% of all reported crime. It’s the most common crime against individuals in England and Wales and can have a serious financial and emotional impact on victims. Fraud can happen to anyone, and scammers often change tactics to target different age groups, like cold calls to older people and texts to younger adults.

The good news is there are ways to protect yourself. A good place to start is understanding the different types of fraud. This guide explains common scams, warning signs to watch for, ways to protect your accounts, and what to do if you think you’ve been a victim.

Types of scams online

It’s important to protect yourself on the internet. Two-thirds of all fraud begins online. Some scammers are after your money, while others may steal your personal information to sell it on the dark web. There are many different types of online scams, from people selling fake goods to fraudsters pretending to be from your bank. Learn more about the different types of internet scams below.

What is the most common type of online fraud?

The most common types of online fraud are:

• Impersonation fraud — where a criminal pretends to be a trusted person or organisation to get your money or personal information.
• Counterfeit goods scams — where scammers sell things like fake designer goods, pirated digital products and low-quality items.
• Investment, pension or ‘get rich quick’ scams — where scammers use pressure tactics and the promise of easy cash to trick you into sending money.
• Software service or ransomware scams — where fraudsters gain access to your computer or device to steal money or information.

Online scammers often target people through direct messages, group chats and online adverts.

Phishing

Phishing is when cyber criminals send you fake messages to try to get your personal information, such as account details or passwords. These messages often look like they’re from a company or person you know, such as your bank or a colleague. They may ask you to click a link or open an attachment.

Common email scams

Knowing common types of email scams can help you spot them faster. Here are some to watch out for:

• ‘Fix an issue’ email scams — These emails ask you to fix a problem. They may sound official or scary. For example: ‘Your account will close in 24 hours. Update your details to keep it.’ Or: ‘Your parcel is being held due to unpaid fees. Pay £2.99 to release it.’
• ‘Refund’ email scams — These emails use the promise of money to tempt you into giving personal information. They might say something like: ‘HMRC has calculated that you are due a tax refund of £226.45. Log in to claim your refund.’
• ‘Fraud alert’ email scams — These emails pretend to be from senders like PayPal or your bank. They may warn you of ‘suspicious activity’ and ask you to change your password with a link to a fake website that collects your details.
• ‘Job offer’ email scams — Reports of recruitment scams more than doubled between 2022 and 2024. They can look like emails offering you a job interview. The scammer may ask for personal information to ‘put you on payroll’ or ask you to pay for something like a short course before you can start.
• Spear phishing — This is when scammers send personalised emails that seem to be from someone you trust, like a colleague. For example: “Hi, I need this invoice processed urgently for a new supplier. Please can you action this and let me know when it’s done?”

Need more information? Citizens Advice explains common scams and how to check if an email is genuine or not.

Smishing

Smishing is like phishing, but it’s a text message rather than an email. For example, you might get a text on your phone asking you to reschedule a delivery or pay additional delivery fees. Smishing is often used to target people aged around 18-24.

Vishing

Vishing is also like phishing, but it’s over the phone. A common trick scammers use is to call you and say you’ve been a victim of fraud. Some even pretend to transfer you to the police. This creates a sense of stressful urgency, making it easier to get sensitive information from you. If you get a call from someone saying you’ve been a victim of fraud, hang up and contact your bank directly. Do not call back on the same number.

Credit Score Expert

Our credit score expert says

Spotting the early signs of fraud can help protect your finances, credit report and personal information. Scammers often try to pressure you into acting quickly. If something feels suspicious, stop, break contact and check if it's genuine. John Webb, Experian UK

Authorised push payment (APP) fraud

APP fraud is when a scammer tricks you into making a bank transfer. They pretend to be someone you trust and often create a sense of urgency. Banks will never ask you to move money to a ‘safe account’. Always check payment requests directly with the organisation before sending money.

Rental fraud

Rental fraud happens when scammers advertise a property that isn’t real or actually available — often at a price that’s too good to be true. You may be asked for an upfront fee to ‘secure’ the property before you view it. Young people are common targets, especially students in July and August when many are looking for a place to live.

Social media fraud

Social media fraud happens on platforms like Facebook, X and Instagram. Scammers may hack a friend’s account, pretend to be romantically interested in you, or send you phishing links. Some use shortened links — which are common on social media — to hide links to malicious websites. Others use fake quizzes, competitions or free apps to collect your personal data or install malware on your device.

Identity theft

Identity theft is when your personal information or documents, like your passport or National Insurance number, are stolen so someone else can pretend to be you. This helps them commit identity fraud, such as taking money from your accounts or applying for credit in your name.

Credit fraud

Credit fraud is when someone takes out credit in your name. They get the money while you’re left with the debt. It’s important to act quickly if you think you’ve been a victim of fraud. Checking your credit report regularly can help you spot the signs and catch it early.

Credit card fraud

Credit card fraud is when someone uses your card without your permission. They may do this by stealing your card or finding out the card number, expiry date and security code. Stay alert when using your card to withdraw cash or make payments, and only use trusted sites if shopping online.

Synthetic identity fraud

Synthetic identity fraud is when criminals create a fake identity using a mix of real and made-up information, such as a National Insurance number, name or address. They use this new identity to open accounts and build a credit history, before taking out credit and not repaying it. If they use some of your information, you may get messages about accounts you don’t recognise, or letters addressed to someone else at your home.

Social engineering fraud

Social engineering fraud is when scammers pretend to be someone you trust, such as your bank or the police. They then use emotional pressure to trick you into handing over information or money. It can happen online, in person, by email, text, phone — or a mix. For example, they may provide ‘proof’ like connecting you to a fake fraud helpline. One way to protect yourself is to pause before acting, especially if you feel rushed or pushed into a decision.

Fraud that affects businesses

It’s not only individuals who are at risk. Scammers also target businesses for types of fraud like external fraud, first-party fraud or insurance fraud. Find out more about fraud prevention and regulatory compliance for businesses .

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud

There are several steps you can take if you’ve been a victim of fraud:

• Contact your bank so they can take steps to secure your accounts.
• Contact any lender or bank linked to an account you don’t recognise.
• Report it to Report Fraud , who’ll give you a crime reference number and advice.
• Check your credit report with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and ask for help removing any fraudulent information.

Victim Support and Stop! Think Fraud offer more information to help you recover from identity fraud.

Ways to keep yourself safe from fraud

Identity fraud can happen to anyone — three in four UK adults have been targeted. Here are some ways to help keep yourself safe:

1. Avoid sharing personal information on social media.
2. Don’t respond to calls, texts or emails that seem suspicious.
3. Only shop on secure websites — look for ‘https://’ and the padlock symbol.
4. Protect your accounts with unique passwords and two-factor authentication.
5. Lock your credit report to help stop criminals taking out credit in your name.
6. Consider Protective Registration if you think you’re at higher risk of fraud.
7. Act quickly to protect your information, such as changing your passwords, if your details are exposed in a data breach.
8. Check your credit report regularly for applications and accounts you don’t recognise.
9. Learn the warning signs of identity theft to help you spot it early.
10. Get Identity Plus for enhanced fraud support, web monitoring, fraud alerts and increased protection. Try it free for 30 days.*

New customers only. Identity Plus is £10.99 a month after your trial ends.

Frequently asked questions

How do you protect yourself from phishing attacks?

Look for signs of phishing, such as:

• A suspicious email address, like ‘micros0ft.com’ instead of ‘microsoft.com’.
• Generic greetings like ‘Dear customer’ instead of your name.
• Spelling mistakes and low-quality images.
• Urgent or threatening messages designed to make you rush.
• Attachments you weren’t expecting, like a random invoice.

Don’t respond, open attachments or click links if you suspect phishing. The National Cyber Security Centre has more information about how to spot and report scams .

How do you protect yourself from identity theft?

Know the warning signs of identity theft and check your credit report regularly. Avoid sharing personal information on social media, and don’t respond to calls, texts or emails that seem suspicious. Protect your accounts with unique passwords and two-factor authentication, and act quickly in a data breach. Consider locking your report when you’re not applying for credit.

For extra protection you can upgrade your Experian account with Identity Plus. This gives you enhanced fraud support, web monitoring, fraud alerts, daily credit reports and the ability to lock your report. New customers are eligible for a free 30-day trial. Identity Plus is £10.99 a month after your trial ends.

How do you protect yourself against credit card fraud?

Here are some ways to protect yourself against credit card fraud:

• Never tell anyone your PIN, and block it from view when paying or using an ATM.
• Don’t give your card details to cold callers, even if they say they’re from your bank or the police.
• Sign new cards when they arrive and cut up old cards when they expire.
• Use complex, unique passwords and two-factor verification for your accounts.
• Use trusted websites if you’re shopping online, and avoid sites starting with ‘http://’ instead of ‘https://’.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions.
• Learn the warning signs of phishing and identity theft.

How do you avoid email scams?

Look for signs of phishing emails, such as:

• A suspicious email address, like ‘agdi23rjd@gmail.com’ or ‘info@faceb00k.com’.
• Generic greetings like ‘Dear customer’ instead of your name.
• Spelling mistakes and poor-quality images.
• Scary or urgent language designed to make you rush.
• Attachments you weren’t expecting, like a statement you didn’t ask for.

If you think it’s a scam email, don’t respond, open attachments or click links. The National Cyber Security Centre has more information about how to spot and report scams.