Travel Guides · United Kingdom
Most common scams in the UK (and the ones that target travellers)
The most common scams in the UK in 2026: purchase, impersonation, investment and travel scams like fake ETA sites, with warning signs and where to report them.
By Roamie Team · Published · Updated
Photo: Jo Atkins / Wikimedia Commons (geograph.org.uk) · CC BY-SA 2.0
The most common scams in the UK are purchase scams, where you pay for something that never arrives. Next come impersonation scams, where someone pretends to be your bank, the police, HMRC or a delivery company, and then investment and romance scams, which cost the most per victim. Visitors face a few extra ones: fake visa (ETA) websites, fake holiday bookings and unbooked minicabs. Below is how each one works, the warning signs, and exactly where to report it.
The most common scams in the UK, by the numbers
The best data comes from UK Finance, which collects fraud figures from banks and card companies. In its 2026 report, covering 2025 (UK Finance):
- Total losses: £1.28 billion was stolen through payment fraud, up 4% on the year before.
- Scams where you're tricked into sending money: £576.4 million across 248,070 cases. The industry calls this "authorised push payment" fraud.
- Purchase scams: 71% of those cases.
- Investment scams: the most expensive type, at £221.5 million.
- Romance scams: £39.2 million, up 23%.
- Where they start: 66% of cases started online and 17% on the phone.
- Refunds: banks reimbursed £354.3 million, about 61% of the money lost to these scams.
The figures only count what was reported to banks, so the real number of attempts is far higher.
1. Purchase scams
How it works: you find something you want on a marketplace, social media ad or website. It might be concert tickets, a car, a phone or a holiday rental. The price is good, you pay, and the item never arrives. The seller then disappears.
Warning signs:
- The seller pushes you to pay by bank transfer instead of card.
- There's no postal address or real business details.
- The offer seems far too good to be true (Citizens Advice).
What protects you: pay by debit or credit card where you can. Citizens Advice says this gives you extra protection compared with a bank transfer. When paying someone new, check that the account name matches the business (Citizens Advice).
2. Impersonation scams: bank, police, HMRC and delivery firms
These start with a text, call or email that looks official.
- "Your bank's fraud team." A caller says your account is at risk and asks you to move money to a "safe account", or to read out a code. Your real bank will never ask you to do either.
- HMRC. HMRC says it won't email you about a tax rebate from an address that doesn't end in hmrc.gov.uk. It won't offer rebates or ask for financial details through social media, and it doesn't hold conversations with you on WhatsApp. HMRC lists an automated call saying it is suing you and asking you to "press 1" as a known scam (GOV.UK – HMRC).
- Parcel and delivery texts. A message says a parcel is held and asks for a small fee through a link. The fee is small; the real target is your card details.
The one rule that beats all of these: if someone calls about your money, hang up and call 159. It's a short number that connects you to your own bank, and it "cannot be spoofed or impersonated" (Stop Scams UK). It covers customers of more than 99% of UK retail bank current accounts, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, Nationwide, NatWest, Revolut and Santander.
3. Investment and romance scams
Investment scams promise high, fast returns on crypto, foreign exchange or property. They were the biggest-loss scam in 2025, with losses up 40% (UK Finance). Real investments don't come with pressure to decide today.
Romance scams build a relationship online over weeks or months, then invent an emergency that needs money. A typical story is a medical bill, a stuck shipment or a flight home. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
Scams that target travellers and visitors to the UK
If you're visiting the UK, or booking a trip from it, watch for these.
Fake ETA (visa) websites
Many visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. The official fee is £20. GOV.UK warns that other sites may charge more and tells you to avoid sites that "imitate government services" (GOV.UK). Search results and ads can show lookalike sites first, so start from gov.uk itself.
Fake holiday bookings
Holiday booking fraud cost UK travellers just over £11 million in the year reported in May 2025, according to Action Fraud data covered by MoneySavingExpert. July was the most-reported month. Common versions:
- Fake rental listings on social media or cloned booking sites, often asking for a bank transfer.
- "Cheap" flight tickets sold on social media, followed by a fake "name change fee".
- Fake "problem with your booking" emails asking you to pay again.
- Bogus refund agents who contact you after a cancellation.
- Fake giveaways using a well-known brand's name.
Unbooked minicabs
Licensed black cabs are the only taxis you can hail in the street in London. Minicabs must be booked in advance.Photo: Pedro Lastra / Wikimedia Commons · CC0
In London, only licensed black cabs can be hailed in the street. A minicab has to be booked through a licensed operator, and TfL's message is that "if a minicab is not booked, it's illegal and unsafe." A booking confirmation should show the driver's and vehicle's details and photo (Taxi Point, summarising TfL's Safer Travel at Night advice). Ignore drivers who approach you outside bars, clubs or stations.
Tickets for attractions and events
Buy from the venue's or attraction's official website or its named partners. Be wary of anyone selling tickets in a queue or through a social media message.
Warning signs checklist
Stop and check if any of these happen (Citizens Advice):
How to report a scam in the UK
Action Fraud has been replaced by Report Fraud. The old Action Fraud web addresses redirect to the new service.
| What happened |
Where to report it |
| You lost money, or were hacked (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) |
Report Fraud online, or 0300 123 2040 (NCSC) |
| You lost money, or were hacked (Scotland) |
Police Scotland on 101 (NCSC) |
| Suspicious email |
Forward to report@phishing.gov.uk (GOV.UK) |
| Suspicious text |
Forward to 7726; it's free (GOV.UK) |
| Scam pretending to be HMRC |
Texts to 60599; emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk (GOV.UK – HMRC) |
| Unexpected call about your money |
Hang up and call 159 to reach your bank (Stop Scams UK) |
If you've sent money, call your bank first, straight away. The sooner it knows, the better the chance of stopping or recovering the payment.
How Roamie helps
Many travel scams work because your real bookings are scattered across emails, apps and screenshots. That makes a fake "problem with your booking" message hard to check. Roamie keeps your flight, hotel and activity confirmations in one trip timeline, with your passport, ETA and insurance in a private document vault. When a message claims something is wrong, you can compare it with what you actually booked before you pay anyone. Document expiry reminders are part of Roamie Pro.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common scam in the UK?
By number of cases, purchase scams, where you pay for goods or services that never arrive. They made up 71% of authorised push payment fraud cases in 2025, according to UK Finance.
Is Action Fraud still the place to report a scam?
Action Fraud has been replaced by Report Fraud for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can report online at reportfraud.police.uk or by phone on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
How much does a UK ETA really cost?
The official fee is £20 on GOV.UK. Sites charging more are not the government service, even if they look official (GOV.UK).
Will my bank refund me if I'm scammed?
Often, but not always. In 2025, banks reimbursed about 61% of money lost to scams where victims were tricked into sending it (UK Finance). Contact your bank immediately, using 159 or the number on your card.
Does HMRC send texts about tax refunds?
HMRC does send some texts, but don't open links or reply to a text offering a refund in exchange for your personal or bank details. Forward suspicious HMRC texts to 60599 (GOV.UK – HMRC).
Sources
- Fraud remains a national security threat as criminals steal almost £1.3 billion (Annual Fraud Report 2026) — UK Finance
- Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) — GOV.UK
- Report suspicious emails, websites, text messages and phone calls — GOV.UK
- Phishing emails and bogus contact: HM Revenue and Customs examples — HMRC (GOV.UK)
- Report a scam email — National Cyber Security Centre
- Check if something might be a scam — Citizens Advice
- 159 — Stop Scams UK
- Five holiday booking scams to watch out for — MoneySavingExpert
- Safe Travel at Night: TfL do's and don'ts for taxis and minicabs — Taxi Point