Overview

• Lloyds says reports to its banks rose in the 12 months to July 2025, including a 52% increase involving over-55s and an 80-year-old losing £11,000 after contact via a word game.
• People aged 55–64 are the most targeted (20% of victims) and 65–74 make up 18%, with those 75–84 losing the most on average at £8,068 versus a £5,219 overall average.
• Cases also rose 20% among 35–44-year-olds, indicating the trend extends beyond older age groups.
• Scammers commonly claim to be military personnel or oil-rig workers — also business owners, engineers or doctors — and ask for money for medical emergencies, travel or living costs, legal fees, or tax and customs payments.
• Requests typically steer victims to bank transfers or online gift cards and are paired with rapid declarations of love, avoidance of video calls, story inconsistencies and urgency, prompting police and Lloyds to advise staying on-platform, seeking a second opinion and refusing to send money to anyone only met online.