Protect Your Bubble reveals the text scams UK consumers are most worried about with postal text scams seeing the biggest increase in concern.
Scans Surge During Pandemic
It鈥檚 been revealed听more than 拢2.3bn听has been lost in a year as scams surge during the pandemic.
Over 413,000 instances of fraud were reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the year up to April 2021 鈥� an increase of 33 percent on the previous 12 months.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and clever with their methods, using well-known brands and companies to lure unaware consumers into believing their tricks. But what scams were the UK public most concerned about?
To find out, gadget insurance company听Protect Your Bubble听analysed just how many of us are googling inquiries related to text scams.
Most Concerning Scams
Of the most-asked fraud-related terms, 鈥榬oyal mail scam text鈥櫶齮ook the number one spot as the most searched by 14,800 consumers in the UK every month.
Fuelled by a rise in online shopping during the pandemic 鈥� with听75 percent of consumers听admitting they鈥檙e shopping more online than ever before 鈥� Google search data hints at a 2983 percent increase in Royal Mail text scams since 2020.
With cybercriminals keen to exploit Royal Mail鈥檚 popularity, the text scams are designed to look like the official correspondence from the company and the aim is to trick as many users as possible into disclosing sensitive information.
It鈥檚 been reported many people have fallen victim to these scams, only recently a woman听lost almost 拢8000听after believing a fraudulent text pretending to be from the Royal Mail.
Paypal Scam Text
In second place is 鈥楶aypal scam text鈥�, searched by an average of 5,400 people each month. With听almost three million active users, it鈥檚 no surprise cybercriminals are taking advantage of the brands familiarity.
To compare, before the pandemic hit, in 2019 the term 鈥楶aypal scam text鈥櫶齱as searched 1900 times on average. A staggering 184 percent increase, indicating how worried consumers are about safeguarding their finances during the current climate.
Looking at the remaining search terms related to text scams, this is how many people are checking for different scams each month:
听
路听听听听听听听听听Hermes scam text: 5,400 searches per month
路听听听听听听听听听DPD scam text: 590 searches per month
路听听听听听听听听听Phishing scam text: 390 searches per month
路听听听听听听听听听Tax rebate scam text: 260 searches per month
路听听听听听听听听听Bank scam text: 110 searches per month
路听听听听听听听听听Covid scam text: 108 searches per month
Advice for Scam Awareness
Although the type of scam may vary, it鈥檚 easier to spot a scam if you know what to look for. Remember to be careful if someone:听
–听听听听听听听You don鈥檛 know contacts you out of the blue (unexpected calls, emails, or messages should raise suspicion)
–听听听听听听听Offers you something too good to be true 鈥� most of the time it is
–听听听听听听听Asks for personal details or passwords
–听听听听听听听Is pressuring you to make a decision quickly
–听听听听听听听Check for spelling and grammar mistakes
–听听听听听听听If the contact details are vague
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James Brown, Director at听Protect your Bubble听commented:
鈥淲ith an increase in fraudulent text messages, it鈥檚 essential the public remain aware and vigilant when receiving them from well-known companies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also important companies are following and advising customers on the correct behaviours to adopt when it comes to fraudulent activity.”
