A scam involving a man in his 70s, posing as a wealthy gentleman discharged from hospital, has been circulating on Reddit this week. The man, “dressed dapper”, claims he needs money for a “train ticket and taxi” to York, Wakefield, or Leeds. He promises to repay the passerby, handing them an old train ticket with “his” phone number on it. When dialled, that number reportedly connects to the last person he swindled out of £20 or £25. One Reddit user said he was conned out of “much more” than that, and the man has reportedly been doing this successfully for more than three years.
Impersonation Scams on the Rise
Impersonation scams, where criminals pretend to be trusted organisations such as banks, the police, or HMRC, have surged by 10% since this time last year. The average loss per victim is around £3,516, up from £3,200 in 2025, according to Lloyds Bank data.
These scams often begin with a phone call, text, email, or social media message. In police and bank impersonation scams, victims may be told their money is at risk and asked to move it to a “safe account”. In some cases, criminals tell victims their own bank is involved in fraud, then coach them to lie if a genuine bank staff member asks why they are moving money.
How to Protect Yourself
Bogus mobile phone operators may call to say you’re “out of contract”, before offering a deal too good to be true. Alternatively, you might receive a text from HMRC about tax refunds, persuading you to click a link and enter personal or financial details.
The rule of thumb is to always trust your instinct. If something doesn’t feel right, or there’s a hole in the “story”, walk away. If unsure about a call claiming to be from your bank or another trusted organisation, hang up and contact them directly using the official number on their website. Never move money to a “safe account”, as banks and the police will never ask you to transfer money to protect it from fraud. Never trust unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages, and only respond through official, verified channels.
If you receive a suspicious message or suspect you’ve been targeted by a scammer, contact Action Fraud at 08001232040 as soon as possible for advice.
Water Bill Social Tariffs Unclaimed
Thousands more people are being caught out, Lloyds research shows. Water companies Severn Trent, Southern, South East, Thames, and Wessex will be allowed to raise prices from 2027 to 2030 to fund a new £3.4 billion infrastructure investment. Proposed price rises range between £1 and £43, depending on the provider.
Nearly £800 million worth of social water tariffs went unclaimed last year, as the support is not automatic. Social tariffs are designed to provide cheaper deals for low-income and often vulnerable households, who might also be claiming benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Every water company offers one, and last year nearly two million households reduced their bills by an average of £190 by using it.
You can check if you qualify for water bill social tariffs using the Consumer Council for Water’s (CCW) table on its website, under its ‘help with bills’ webpage. Eligibility usually depends on annual household income and whether you claim any other benefits.
