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Around 70% of UK consumers have been targeted by scam messages that seemed to originate from legitimate sources like delivery firms, banks or government departments, new research has revealed.
Over half of those who were targeted (56%) suspect the scammers used artificial intelligence technology, including deepfake voices or images, according to the survey by data and insights company TransUnion.
Nearly one in ten people (9%) have actually lost money to fraudsters impersonating well-known brands, with 2% still unclear about how they were duped, whilst more than one in ten victims (11%) lost a minimum of £1,000.
Young adults seem particularly at risk as they tend to use mobile messaging more frequently, with 13% of those aged 25 to 34 and 11% of 18 to 24 year olds falling victim to financial scams.
Royal Mail tops the list of Britain’s most copied brands, with 40% of UK adults reporting they’ve received bogus messages from criminals pretending to represent the postal service, followed by Evri at 38%.
Parcel delivery fraud – where people are contacted about fake upcoming or missed deliveries – continues to be fraudsters’ preferred method of attack.
TransUnion chief executive Madhu Kejriwal commented: “As fraudsters exploit artificial intelligence, scams are becoming more sophisticated and harder for consumers to spot due to their sheer volume, accuracy and tone.
“These scams don’t just look real, they feel real. Whether it’s a delivery text arriving just when you’re expecting a parcel, or an email that looks like it’s from your bank, it’s more important than ever that consumers stay vigilant.”
Chad Reimers, general manager of identity and fraud at TransUnion in the UK and Europe, said: “Consumers should be aware that even if a relatively small sum of money has been lost, it may just be the first phase of the fraudster’s objective.
“In some instances, once fraudsters have access to personal details or login credentials, they will look to ‘take over the account’ leading to further financial withdrawals, applying for additional credit lines and in some cases may even coach or coerce witting or unwitting money mules to shift funds quickly through accounts to launder their ill-gotten gains.
“It is, therefore, important that consumers stay vigilant and immediately report suspicious activity, especially in situations where they suspect their details have been compromised, and not just when money has been taken.”
The research emerges as financial technology platform Adyen revealed UK shoppers hit by fraud have lost an average of £757.64 over the past 12 months.
The firm said Britain witnessed a 144% jump in the value of money stolen per shopper in the past year, trailing only Canada. Adyen’s research revealed that shoppers are increasingly anxious about artificial intelligence and its role in fraudulent schemes, with nearly a third (29%) expressing concern about heightened fraud and scam risks.
Brigette Korney, global head of risk and fraud prevention at Adyen, explained: “With AI, fraud is a lot harder to detect, because those AI models are able to really replicate what a human would write or say.
“Social engineering kits now write flawless emails, texts and even clone brand sites. Stolen credentials are fed straight into mobile wallets, bypassing many legacy checks. AI-authored lures such as texts or emails are no longer riddled with spelling mistakes; they read like brand-approved marketing copy and are arriving at industrial scale.
“As AI technology is constantly evolving, educating shoppers about its potential impact on fraudulent activities is crucial, especially considering the varying levels of tech-savviness among customers.”
The findings come from a YouGov poll of 2,180 UK adults conducted for TransUnion in June.
