Santander UK Issues Urgent Warning Over Side Hustle Scams
Santander UK has issued a stark warning to individuals seeking additional income streams this January, following data revealing that over £95,000 was stolen from customers in the final quarter of 2025. The bank is alerting the public to sophisticated scams that exploit the growing trend of "side hustles"—additional work taken on to supplement primary income.
How the Scams Operate
According to Santander's analysis, criminals are targeting people, particularly those aged 20 to 55, by offering money for completing simple online tasks. The fraud typically begins with scammers promising payment for liking or sharing social media influencer videos. To build trust, they often provide small initial payments to lure victims into a false sense of security.
The scheme escalates when victims are asked to pre-pay to access more lucrative tasks, using their own money with the promise of higher returns. Criminals direct victims to deposit funds into accounts controlled by fraudsters. Subsequently, victims are blocked from withdrawing their money, often under the pretence that their "credit score" is too low, requiring additional payments to release the funds.
Sophisticated Tactics and Platforms
These scams employ increasingly sophisticated methods to appear legitimate. Fraudsters often misrepresent themselves as employees of genuine companies to gain trust. They may instruct targets to download specific messaging apps to communicate with supposed "receptionists" or "mentors," and to open accounts on cryptocurrency platforms, adding layers of complexity to the fraud.
Chris Ainsley, Head of Fraud Strategy at Santander UK, emphasised the seasonal risk: "January payday still feels a long way off for many, as the costs of Christmas start to roll in. Others use this time to re-evaluate their finances and start saving for the year ahead. Looking for ways to make some extra cash provides scammers with an opportunity to pounce."
Expert Analysis and Red Flags
Dr Rasha Kassem, Senior Academic and Leader of the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, provided context: "Real side hustles have clear pay, proper terms and no upfront fees. The fake versions copy this idea to look harmless. In the past, similar tricks appeared as fake mystery shopping jobs or work-from-home offers that asked for fees. Now they use social media, messaging apps and crypto platforms to seem more convincing."
Santander advises the public to be extremely wary of any job offers that seem too good to be true, especially those promising returns for minimal effort like liking social media content. Ainsley added: "Start the new year alert—even if you've earned a couple of pounds from a few clicks before—any requests to pay an upfront fee to take on a job should be treated as a scam."
The warning comes at a critical time when many individuals are seeking to bolster their finances post-Christmas, making them particularly vulnerable to such predatory schemes. Vigilance and scepticism towards unsolicited money-making opportunities are crucial defences against these evolving financial threats.
