Top 10 Scams Targeting UK Victims Right Now (2026) & How to Get Your Money Back

Fraud in the UK is at a record high with the UK Government reporting that fraud now accounts for 45% of all crime and costs the economy an estimated £14.4 billion every year. Protecting yourself has never been more important.

In this guide, we cover the top 10 scams targeting UK victims in 2026; how to recognise them, and critically, what you can do to recover your money if you have already been affected.

For too long, scams were seen as crimes that only targeted the elderly or vulnerable. The reality is very different. Modern fraudsters use sophisticated psychological tactics, professional-looking platforms, and deepfake technology to deceive ordinary, intelligent people. Anyone can be a victim, and no one should feel ashamed for being targeted by a professional criminal.

Top 10 Scams in the UK in 2026:

Investment Scams (Cryptocurrency & General Investments)

• Investment scams are among the most common and financially devastating fraud types that Refundee encounters. Fraudsters pose as experienced brokers or legitimate investment platforms, promising high or guaranteed returns through forex trading, cryptocurrency, or commodity investments. In reality, no investment ever takes place, and funds go directly to the scammer, while victims are shown fake account dashboards to build false confidence of profits. 

• Victims are then pressured to deposit further funds or charged withdrawal fees before the platform disappears entirely. These schemes are advertised across social media, email, search engines, and increasingly through deepfake celebrity endorsements making them appear highly credible to even financially experienced investors. 

• Read more about investment scams and how to recover your funds

Recovery Scams

• Recovery scams target people who have already lost money to fraud, particularly investment scams. Scammers contact victims pretending to be recovery agents, solicitors, blockchain investigators, or government-backed organisations claiming they can trace and recover stolen funds. They demand upfront payments, usually in cryptocurrency, for “legal fees”, “wallet tracing”, or “release charges”. Once the payment is made, the scammers disappear or continue demanding further fees. 

• In many cases, the recovery scam is operated by the same criminals responsible for the original fraud.

• Refundee operates on a no win, no fee basis and never charges upfront fees. If someone is asking for payment before recovering your money, it is almost certainly a scam.

Read more about Recovery Scams here.

Property Scams

• Property scams involve fraudsters promoting fake, misleading, or non-existent property investments designed to steal investors’ funds. Victims are often promised high returns through buy-to-let developments, overseas property schemes, social housing investments, or property bonds that either do not exist or are significantly misrepresented. Fraudsters use professional-looking contracts, websites, and marketing materials to appear legitimate. Once funds are transferred, promised returns never materialise and communication often stops entirely. 

• Social housing and property development scams in particular have become increasingly common across the UK. Refundee has investigated numerous collapsed property schemes, including CityGate Housing and Unique Property Group where investors lost significant sums.

You can read more about Property Scams here.

Job/Task Scams

• Job and task scams typically begin with fraudsters posing as recruiters or representatives from well-known companies offering easy remote work opportunities. Victims are told they can earn commission by completing simple online tasks such as reviewing hotels, liking products, or boosting app ratings. The scam escalates when victims are asked to deposit their own funds, usually in cryptocurrency, to “unlock” higher commissions or complete additional tasks.

• When victims attempt to withdraw their earnings, the platform blocks withdrawals and demands further payments. In reality, no legitimate employment exists and all funds are controlled by the scammers. 

Read more about Job Task Scams here.

Romance Scams

• Romance scams occur when fraudsters build emotional relationships with victims in order to manipulate them into sending money. Scammers commonly use dating apps, social media, or messaging platforms to establish trust over weeks or months before inventing emergencies involving medical bills, travel costs, business problems, or financial hardship.

• Victims are pressured into sending money urgently, often multiple times, under the belief they are helping someone they care about. These scams are highly manipulative and can cause significant emotional as well as financial harm.

Read more about Romance Scams and recovery options.

Safe Account/Impersonation Scams

• Safe account scams involve criminals impersonating trusted organisations, banks, HMRC, the police, or fraud prevention services. Victims are told their account has been compromised and that their money must be urgently moved to a "safe account" for protection.

• The scammer creates intense pressure and authority, convincing the victim they are speaking with a legitimate official. In reality, the safe account is fully controlled by the fraudster and funds are stolen immediately. Genuine banks and government agencies will never ask you to move money to a safe account.

Read more about Safe Account Scams here.

Purchase Scams

• Purchase scams occur when fraudsters advertise goods or services that appear genuine but do not actually exist. Common examples include vehicles, electronics, event tickets, rental properties, and designer items offered at attractive prices. Victims are persuaded to pay upfront, often via bank transfer, before receiving or viewing the product.

• Once payment is made, the item never arrives and the seller disappears or cuts off communication. These scams frequently operate through online marketplaces, social media platforms, and fake retail websites.

Read more about Purchase Scams here.

Unauthorised Scams

• Unauthorised payment fraud occurs when criminals gain access to a victim's bank account or payment details and remove funds without their knowledge or consent. This can happen through phishing emails, malware, data breaches, SIM swap fraud, or stolen banking credentials.

• Unlike Authorised Push Payment scams, the victim does not knowingly transfer the funds themselves. Fraudsters typically move stolen money rapidly across multiple accounts to complicate recovery. If you notice an unauthorised transaction, contact your bank immediately.

Read more about Unauthorised Scams here.

Invoice Scams

• Invoice scams primarily target businesses and individuals making legitimate payments. Fraudsters intercept or imitate genuine email conversations and send revised payment instructions claiming that bank details have changed. These emails are often highly convincing and may come from hacked accounts or addresses that closely resemble legitimate companies.

• Victims unknowingly transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers, believing they are paying a genuine supplier, contractor, or solicitor. By the time the fraud is discovered, the funds have often been moved elsewhere. 

Read more about Invoice Scams here.

Visa Scams

• Visa scams target individuals seeking employment or relocation opportunities in the UK. Fraudsters pose as immigration advisers, recruitment agencies, or employers and promise guaranteed visas, sponsorship, or jobs in exchange for upfront payments. Victims are asked to pay repeated fees for processing, documentation, sponsorship, or fast-track applications.

• The scammers often use fake websites, forged documents, and impersonated government branding to appear legitimate. Once payments are made, communication ceases or further fees are demanded with no visa or employment ever provided.

Read more about Visa Scams here.

How Do You Protect Yourself From These Scams?

Whilst staying informed about current scams is important, there are also practical steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Be Sceptical of Unsolicited Contact - Treat unexpected calls, emails, text messages, or social media messages with caution, especially if they involve money, investments, jobs, or requests for personal information. Fraudsters often impersonate trusted organisations or create convincing fake identities to appear legitimate.

• Never Rush Financial Decisions - Scammers rely heavily on urgency and emotional pressure. If someone is demanding immediate payment, threatening consequences, or promising guaranteed profits, take time to pause and independently verify the situation before sending any money.

• Verify Companies and Individuals Independently - Always carry out your own checks before making payments or investments. Verify FCA authorisation, company registrations, and contact details using official sources - never information provided by the person contacting you. Check the FCA register and FCA warning list.

• Be Extremely Cautious With Cryptocurrency Payments - Cryptocurrency transactions are commonly used in scams because they are difficult to trace and recover. Legitimate employers, recovery companies, or government agencies will never demand payment in cryptocurrency. Requests for crypto payments should always be treated as a major warning sign.

• Protect Your Personal and Banking Information - Never share one-time passcodes, banking passwords, or remote access to your device with anyone claiming to be from your bank or a government agency. Genuine organisations will never ask you to transfer money to a “safe account”.

• Research Investment Opportunities Thoroughly - Be wary of investments promising guaranteed returns, low risk, or unusually high profits. If an opportunity appears too good to be true, it almost always is. Check whether firms are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and look for warnings about cloned or fraudulent firms.

• Speak to Someone You Trust - Discussing financial decisions with a trusted friend, family member, or professional adviser can help identify warning signs that may be missed under pressure. Isolation is a common tactic used by fraudsters to maintain control.

• Keep informed - The fraud landscape evolves constantly. Refundee regularly publishes updates on new and emerging scams targeting UK consumers - browse our latest investigations and alerts here.

What to do If You Lost Money to a Scam?

At Refundee, we speak with fraud victims every day - people whose lives have been significantly affected by being targeted, manipulated, and deceived. Losing hard-earned money to a criminal is not something anyone should have to face alone.

If you have lost money, acting quickly improves your chances of recovery. Take the following steps as soon as possible:

• Stop making any further payments

• Preserve all evidence - emails, contracts, transaction records and any communications

• Report the matter to Report Fraud

• Contact your bank to notify them of the situation

• Contact Refundee to explore your recovery options - acting quickly improves your chances

Refundee have helped thousands of clients recover funds after they have been the victim of a scam. We have recovered over £130 million for our clients so far.

We work on a no win, no fee basis so you only pay us if we are successful.

Start your recovery claim here

You can read our verified reviews from our clients on Trustpilot.

How would the process work?

Refundee manages the case from start to finish.

The process typically involves:

1️⃣ Investigating the circumstances of the investment
2️⃣ Preparing a complaint to the bank
3️⃣ Escalating the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service where appropriate

Recovery cases typically take 6–12 months, although timelines can vary depending on the circumstances.

More about Refundee

Here are the technical bits:

Refundee Ltd is a claims management company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated claims management activity FRN: 937096.

Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office; registration number: A8986071.

Registered office address: Refundee, 3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE.  

Registered as a company in England & Wales; number: 12855931.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is Fraud?

  Fraud occurs when someone uses deception, manipulation, or false information to trick another person into parting with their money or personal details. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, background, or financial literacy, and the impact extends far beyond financial loss.

• What is the most common scam in the UK in 2026?

  Investment fraud and Authorised Push Payment scams are among the most frequently reported and financially damaging scam types in the UK in 2026. Deepfake celebrity endorsements and job task scams have also seen a significant increase in recent years.

• Can I get my money back after being scammed?

  If you transferred funds from a UK bank account, you may be eligible to pursue reimbursement through Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud rules. Refundee assesses each case individually on a no win, no fee basis - start your eligibility check here.

• What should I do immediately after being scammed?

  Stop all payments, preserve all evidence, contact your bank immediately, and report the fraud to report fraud.

• What is APP fraud?

  Authorised Push Payment fraud is when you're tricked into transferring money to a scammer. UK banks are regulated to assess reimbursement claims in these cases.

• How long does the fund recovery process usually take?

  Recovery cases typically take around 6–12 months, but timelines vary based on the bank and complexity of the situation.