The Little Book of Scams: Every UK Scam Explained (2026 Edition)

Every scam in this book follows one of two scripts: a fake problem that needs money to fix, or a fake opportunity that needs money to start. Learn the scripts and you can spot the scam — whichever brand name it wears.

Quick numbers to remember: forward scam texts to 7726 (free), forward scam emails to [email protected], report fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, verify bank callers on 159, and contact the police on 101.

Contents: Delivery & parcel · Bank OTP & impersonation calls · Phishing texts, emails & QR · WhatsApp · Romance · Crypto & investment · Job, rental & student · Gift cards · Marketplace · Courier fraud · Police impersonation · Puppies · Tickets · Holidays · Pensions · Invoice & CEO · TV licence · SIM swap · Tech support · Identity theft.

1. Delivery and parcel scams

Fake texts from "Royal Mail", "DPD", "Evri", "DHL", "Yodel" or "Parcelforce" say a parcel is held and a small fee (£1.99–£2.99) will release it. The link steals your card details.

Red flag: unexpected link + fee + deadline.
Do: Track only on the courier's official site or app. Forward the text to 7726.

2. Bank OTP and impersonation calls

A caller claims to be your bank's fraud team and asks you to read out a one-time code, move money to a "safe account", or install an app "for security". They already know your name and sometimes your address.

Red flag: you didn't call them, and they ask for codes, transfers, or app installs.
Do: Hang up, wait five minutes, then call your bank on 159 or the number on your card. Real banks never ask you to move money to a "safe" account.

3. Phishing texts, emails and QR codes

Messages that pretend to be from a delivery firm, bank, or "gov.uk" push a link or QR code to a lookalike login page. Scanning a fake QR code can also install malware or open a payment page.

Red flag: unsolicited links, urgent warnings, poor spelling, or a web address that doesn't match the real company.
Do: Never log in or pay from a link you didn't ask for. Visit the official site yourself. Forward texts to 7726, emails to [email protected].

4. WhatsApp scams

Three big ones: "Hi Mum" — a "new number" from a relative begs for money for a broken phone; the code scam — a "friend" asks you to forward a WhatsApp verification code, which lets them take over your account; video-call scams — AI face-swapped clips of celebrities or loved ones push fake investments or emergency pleas.

Red flag: a new number, an emergency, and money — or anyone asking for a code.
Do: Call the person on their old number or video-call them. Never share codes. Turn on two-step verification in WhatsApp.

5. Romance scams

Fake profiles on dating apps build a relationship over weeks or months, then hit a "crisis" — a sick relative, a stranded business deal, a visa problem — that only your money can fix. They always have an excuse not to meet or video-call.

Red flag: declarations of love fast, constant excuses, and requests for money or crypto.
Do: Never send money to someone you haven't met in person. Do a reverse-image search on their photos. Talk to a friend before you send anything.

6. Crypto and investment scams

Fake trading platforms, celebrity-endorsed "guaranteed return" adverts, and "investment managers" who contact you on WhatsApp. The app shows rising profits to encourage bigger deposits — then withdrawals stop working.

Red flag: guaranteed returns, pressure to "act now", and requests to pay by crypto or bank transfer.
Do: Only use FCA-regulated firms — check the FCA register. If a platform won't let you withdraw, it was never real. Report to Action Fraud.

7. Job, rental and student scams

Fake job offers ask for "training fees" or bank details for a role you got without an interview. Rental scams take a deposit for a flat that doesn't exist or is listed twice. Student scams include fake tuition discounts and accommodation deposits.

Red flag: paying to get a job, a landlord who can't show you the property, or deals that are far below market rate.
Do: Verify the company independently. Never pay a deposit without viewing (or a trusted person viewing) the property. Check the FCA register for any "financial job" that asks you to move money.

8. Gift card scams

Anyone who asks you to pay with iTunes, Google Play, Amazon or Steam gift cards is a scammer — no exceptions. The codes are untraceable and instantly cashed.

Red flag: "pay the fee / tax / deposit in gift cards".
Do: Treat it as an instant scam signal. Report to Action Fraud and keep the receipts — the card retailer may help.

9. Marketplace scams (Facebook, eBay, Vinted)

Buyers overpay with a fake email claiming to be from the platform, or sellers take payment and never ship. "Collection only" items are a favourite for deposit scams.

Red flag: buyers who won't meet in person, sellers who push you off-platform, and payment links in emails.
Do: Stay on the platform for payment and communication. Meet in a public place for high-value items. Never pay by bank transfer to a stranger.

10. Courier fraud

A caller says they're from the police or your bank's fraud team. A "courier" will collect your card, cash or valuables for "evidence" — sometimes someone is even on your doorstep already.

Red flag: anyone asking you to hand over your card, PIN or cash to a courier, or to call a number they give you.
Do: Hang up. Call your bank on 159 or the number on your card — using a different phone if the caller is still on the line. Police and banks never send couriers for your card.

11. Police impersonation

Callers claim to be police investigating fraud at your bank, and pressure you to transfer money or withdraw cash "so it can be checked". Real police never do this.

Red flag: the "officer" asks you to keep it secret, move money, or buy something to "test" a shop.
Do: End the call, wait, then call 101 — or 999 if someone is at your door. Genuine officers will be happy to wait.

12. Puppy scams

Adverts for puppies and kittens — often with heart-tugging photos — demand deposits for "vaccinations", "shipping" or "a pet courier", then the animal never arrives. The pet doesn't exist.

Red flag: sellers who won't let you visit, prices well below market, and endless extra fees.
Do: Only buy from breeders you visit in person. Pay by card, not bank transfer. Reverse-image search the photos.

13. Ticket scams

Fake tickets for concerts, festivals and football sold on social media and fake resale sites. Often the same ticket is "sold" to dozens of people, or it simply never arrives.

Red flag: below-face-value prices, sellers demanding bank transfer or gift cards, and tickets that only arrive "on the day".
Do: Buy from official sellers only. Pay by card for buyer protection. If it's sold out, don't trust a stranger's sob story.

14. Holiday scams

Fake villas, "too good to be true" package deals, and cloned adverts from real travel companies. Payment is taken, then the holiday doesn't exist.

Red flag: pressure to book now, payment by bank transfer, and no physical address or phone number.
Do: Book through ABTA/ATOL-protected companies. Pay by card. Verify the property independently — including checking it isn't cloned from another listing.

15. Pension scams

Cold callers offer "free pension reviews" and promise to unlock your pension early or move it into "ethical", "green" or overseas investments with guaranteed returns. Victims can lose their entire life savings and face tax penalties.

Red flag: unsolicited offers, "guaranteed" returns, and pressure to act quickly.
Do: Pension cold calling is banned — hang up. Only take advice from an FCA-regulated adviser. Never move a pension on the promise of early access.

16. Invoice and CEO scams

Fraudsters intercept a real invoice (builder, solicitor, supplier) and send their own bank details instead — or fake an email from your boss demanding an urgent payment to a new account.

Red flag: a change of bank details by email, urgent payment requests, and replies that won't take a phone call.
Do: Verify any change of bank details by phone using a known number. Agree a rule with your finance team: no payment changes by email alone.

17. TV licence scams

Fake emails and texts say your TV licence is overdue and you'll be prosecuted unless you pay immediately. The link mimics the real TV Licensing payment page.

Red flag: threats of prosecution, urgent payment links, and demands for card details by text.
Do: Check your account by visiting the official TV Licensing site yourself. Forward the message to 7726 or [email protected].

18. SIM swap scams

A criminal convinces your mobile provider to move your number to a SIM they control, then resets the passwords on your email, bank and social accounts using your one-time codes.

Red flag: your phone suddenly loses signal, or texts stop arriving.
Do: If your phone goes dead for no reason, contact your provider immediately. Use app-based authentication or a separate authenticator app, not SMS codes, for your email and banking.

19. Tech support scams

A pop-up or a cold call claims your computer is infected with a virus and offers to "fix" it for a fee — then installs real malware or locks your files. Scammers also pose as Microsoft, your broadband provider or your phone company.

Red flag: unsolicited calls about your computer, pop-ups with a phone number, and demands for remote access.
Do: Never give remote access to a stranger. Close the pop-up. Real security alerts don't come with a support hotline.

20. Identity theft

Your personal details — from a data breach, a phishing reply, or a stolen document — are used to open credit cards, loans, or accounts in your name.

Red flag: unfamiliar credit checks, post going missing, or letters about accounts you never opened.
Do: Check your credit report with the three main agencies. Report stolen documents to Action Fraud. If accounts were opened in your name, tell the lender and get it marked as fraud.

If you've been scammed — do these now

Contact your bank immediately if money, card details or codes are involved — use the number on your card or 159.
Report it to Action Fraud: actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. If a crime is in progress or you're in danger, call 999.
Forward scam texts to 7726 and scam emails to [email protected].
Change passwords on any account you gave away, and enable two-factor authentication.
Tell someone. Fraud thrives on shame — reporting it protects the next person.

The one-sentence version: anyone who contacts you out of the blue and asks for money, codes, card details or remote access is a scammer — stop, verify on an official channel, and never pay through a link.

Suspicious of a message right now? Use the free CyberAware UK Scam Checker to check a link or number, or browse the full UK scams database.