Purchase scams are now the UK's fastest-growing type of fraud, with checks in this category jumping by 164% over the past 12 months, according to new figures from the scam-checking service Ask Silver.
These scams typically involve someone paying upfront for goods or services that either do not exist or never arrive. The data also shows rises in other fraud types: checks for impersonation scams are up 31%, fake security alerts have increased by 62% in the past six months, and fake delivery firm messages are up 29%. Checks linked to bogus online casinos have risen by 59%, and marketplace scams on sites such as Facebook Marketplace and Etsy are up 76%.
Public fears over AI and sophistication
The findings come after a poll of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by The Co-operative Bank, found two-thirds are worried about being scammed. Nearly two-thirds (63%) said scams are getting more sophisticated as criminals use more technology. More than half believe scams are becoming more common (57%) and harder to spot (55%). Meanwhile, 84% said they are concerned artificial intelligence is making scams look more convincing.
To help customers check suspicious activity, The Co-operative Bank has teamed up with Ask Silver to launch its own scam-checker, where users can upload a text message, image or website and receive guidance on whether it could be a scam.
Fraudsters follow where people spend time
Vishal Majithia, head of economic crime at the bank, said: "The scams we're seeing today often hide behind perfectly ordinary moments, from shopping online and tracking a parcel to receiving a message that appears to be from an organisation you trust."
"Fraudsters follow where people spend their time and money and quickly adapt their tactics to popular platforms, services and new technology. That means anyone can be targeted, so knowing what to look out for and taking a moment to check something before you act can make all the difference."
According to the Ask Silver data, which has also revealed the top 10 trending scams in the past 12 months, the nation has seen a surge in fraudsters impersonating both everyday organisations and government agencies - an increase of 59% and 53%, respectively.
Young adults most at risk
There were over four million recorded online scams in 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics – with over three million adults experiencing a loss as a result. Those who have ever been scammed have lost an average of £2,850, with 60% stating that most digital scams they have encountered were disguised as everyday admin.
Elderly people are usually believed to be the most susceptible to digital scams. However, ONS data shows those aged 25 to 44 were the most likely to fall victim to this – particularly phishing scams, which involve messages from fraudsters posing as legitimate organisations to extract personal information or money.
Alex Somervell, CEO and co-founder of Ask Silver, said: "In this digital age where scams are increasingly sophisticated, and fraudsters are highly experienced, we have to empower individuals with tools that keep them safe and allow them to communicate, shop and live with peace of mind."
"This is a deeply personal mission for me as my dad lost almost his entire life savings to scammers, and it had a devastating impact on our family, and trying to help prevent that experience for others inspires us at Ask Silver. As AI-enhanced scams accelerate the potential impact of fraud, we are using our AI-powered scam checker to fight back."
"Supporting customers at the point where individuals are parting with their hard-earned cash is where we can make a real difference, and we're delighted to be partnering with The Co-operative Bank in this way because with every scam we stop, it's another person we can keep safe."
Top 10 scam trends of the last 12 months
- General purchase scams (31%): purchase scams that aren't marketplace scams - these are mainly eCommerce websites
- General impersonation scams (10%): impersonation of everyday organisations (e.g. Tesco, British Gas)
- Tech scams (9%): mostly antivirus scams (e.g. Norton, McAfee)
- Delivery scams (6%): fake comms from delivery services (e.g. DPD, Evri, DHL)
- Government impersonation scams (4%): e.g. HMRC, DWP, Police
- Casino scams (4%): fake online casinos
- Crypto scams (3%)
- Marketplace scams (3%): online marketplaces (e.g. Facebook Marketplace, Etsy)
- Task scams (3%): fake paid-by-the-hour tasks, usually online
- Windfall scams (3%): scams that promise people large, unexpected sums of money (e.g. lottery win, investment return, fake inheritance)
