Millions of young Brits have lost money to online scams – and it’s getting worse

Almost half of eight- to 17-year-olds have been scammed online, shocking new research has found. 

Tech-savvy young people may think they are immune to internet trickery. But staggering figures – released by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) to mark Safer Internet Day 2025 (11 February) – tell a different story. 

Some 46% of eight- to 17-year-olds have been scammed online and 9% have lost money to an online con before. Almost a fifth of this age group (18%) know someone their age who has lost money ​in this way.

Fake giveaways, phishing scams and sham websites were the most common cases, closely followed by online shopping scams like fake ticket sales and trust trades in online games. 

The figures are high – but they are sadly unsurprising,saidUKSIC director Will Gardner.

“We were expecting high percentages,” he told Big Issue. “When we asked young people last year, what areas of your online lives would you like more support in, scams and phishing was pretty much the top answer across all the age groups.

“There is a lot of anti-scam work happening. But we want to make sure children and young people are included in that work.”

What scams are young people falling victim to?

Scams are everywhere online. Some 79% of eight- to 17-year-olds come across them at least once a month, while almost half (45%) do at least once a week. A fifth (20%) see online cons every single day.  

Fraudsters thrive on social media platforms, via email and in online games, explained Gardner. 

“The perception from parents and carers, and from children and young people, is that the situation is getting worse,” he said. 

“There are more scams than ever before, they are becoming more convincing, and there are concerns about new technologies such as generative AI, which are going to make things more difficult going forward.”

But victims don’t always know where to get help, UKSIC figures show. Almost half of young people (47%) believe that ​​embarrassment is the top barrier to seeking help after being scammed online, followed by victims “feeling​ that​ it’s their fault and they’ll be blamed” (41%) and worrying about getting into trouble (40%).

But it’s not all the bad news. Almost ​three quarters of young people (72%) say they’d turn to their parents or a carer if they were worried about an online scam. It goes the other way, too: 40% of parents and carers said their child has taught them how to spot an online fraud.

This kind of dialogue will be key to tackling the issue, said Gardner.

“There is intergenerational learning that’s going on,” he added. “So that’s a real opportunity.”

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How to spot a scam

Scams are a huge problem for adults and children alike. According to Natwest data, fraudsters stole £570m from Brits during the first half of 2024.

Fake parcel delivery texts, social media marketplace and AI voice cloning scams are the fastest-growing types. UKSIC has compiled tips and resources to help you  – and the young people in your life – spot scams online. 

The key one, Gardner explains, is looking out for warning signs that someone or something online cannot be trusted.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” he said. “If someone is trying to put a sense of urgency on something, that’s a warning sign. And if someone is asking for personal information.”

“Young people do have a common knowledge of these building block things, but there’s more we can do to help.

Another common warning sign is contact that you weren’t expecting. And if someone asks for money or personal information like bank or contact details, passwords, or phone number, be on your guard. But if you are scammed, Gardner adds, it is not your fault.

“The message that we want to share if you have been scammed is that it isn’t your fault. These are professional criminal organizations, and this is happening to a lot of people, so there’s no reason to have a sense of guilt or shame. It’s not your fault, you are the victim of a crime.” 

You can find more information and resources about staying safe online here. 

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