A new campaign is sharing real-life scam horror stories for Halloween after it was revealed that 73 per cent of Brits have been targeted by fraudsters.
'The Scammer House of Horrors' is NatWest's latest campaign to warn the public about the dangers of fraud.
British actor Simon Callow, who starred in Notting Hill and Shakespeare in Love, narrates three frightful tales rooted in real-life case studies.
Twisted Fate details how fake cryptocurrency investment offerings can swindle individuals out of their earnings through false promises
Romance is Dead is a deceptively alluring romance scam that highlights the modern risks of online dating.
The Final Demand brings to life the horrors of an invoice redirection scam, showing how a small business owner is targeted by a fake “supplier” claiming their details have changed and that they require a new invoice.
Mr Callow said he knows someone who "lost their entire life savings" and if it hadn't been for his informed husband, he would've fallen victim himself. He added: “It’s frightening how advanced scams have evolved to be.
"I find it increasingly difficult to stay savvy to the dangers."
The release of the free downloadable e-book follows new research of 2,000 UK adults which found almost three quarters (73 per cent) had been targeted by scammers, with an average of £350.50 stolen per victim.
The top 9 most common scams that Brits have been targeted by:
- Phishing (57%)
- Smishing (40%)
- Identity fraud (27%)
- Postal scam (25%)
- Romance scam (25%)
- Unauthorised use of a banking card (24%)
- Investment and cryptocurrency scam (21%)
- Approached at home regarding building and renovation work that wasn’t asked for (20%)
- Invoice redirection fraud
NatWest says the research shows that "education is key" as technology is advancing and scams are becoming trickier to spot.
Stuart Skinner, fraud and scam expert at NatWest, said: “We are living in a digital age in which fraudsters have more outlets than ever to take advantage of unsuspecting people.
"It’s terrifying that these stories are drawn from real-life cases, but we hope it helps others to be equipped with the knowledge to spot and stop these scams themselves."
To watch The Scammer House of Horrors visit natwest.com/fraud-and-security/scammer-house-of-horrors.html
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