- New research from Virgin Media O2 reveals over-65s falling victim to financial fraud lose £831 on average, with Brits left fearful of scammers posing as banks, HMRC and delivery firms.
- More than half (55%) of Brits worry older loved ones could lose their life savings to fraud, with 39% doubting they’d be able to spot a scam.
- Ahead of Get Online Week, Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation are launching a free Scam Schools programme with sessions across the UK to help Brits get safer online.
New research from Virgin Media O2 reveals more than 1.8 million* over-65s have been scammed online in the past year, with the average victim losing £831**. More than half (55%) of Brits fear their older relatives could lose their life savings to fraudsters, with almost four in ten (39%) not confident that they could spot a scam.
Ahead of Get Online Week (20-26 October), Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation have announced the launch of a series of free “scam schools” across the UK designed to help Brits swerve the scammers and get online safely.
The scams used to trick older Brits
With millions of over-65s already fraud victims, eight-in-ten (80%) Brits are worried about older friends and family when it comes to online scams. Almost three-quarters (73%) believe vulnerable older people are being deliberately targeted by scammers.
Bank closures have ratcheted up concerns, with 61% saying they are forcing over-65s to rely on online services, putting them at greater risk of running into scammers.
When asked about the scams they fear could most easily trick older people, Brits pointed to familiar – and increasingly sophisticated – tactics including:
- Criminals posing as banks or HMRC (80%)
- Phishing texts and emails carrying unsafe links (79%)
- Fraudsters posing as tech support (76%)
- Parcel delivery scams (76%)
- Bogus winter fuel or pension support offers (74%)
- Fake investment and pension schemes (73%)
- Social media competition or giveaway scams (68%)
- Impersonation scams where criminals pose as children or grandchildren (65%)
- Romance scams (59%)
The human cost of scam fears
These fears have driven almost three in ten (29%) Brits to tell loved ones to stay offline to avoid being tricked. Over a third (35%) say the thought of an older relative being scammed has kept them awake at night. To help manage older loved ones’ reluctance to go online, almost two-thirds (60%) of Brits have taken on online tasks, such as managing banking or financial services (22%), paying household bills (21%), and booking medical appointments (20%).
74-year-old Mary from Berkshire lost several thousand pounds in a cryptocurrency investment scam after being pressured into buying Bitcoin from a deepfake video of an AI Holly Willoughby. She says, “I was persuaded by what looked like a genuine opportunity, but it turned into a nightmare. The scammers were clever and convincing, calling me every day and pressuring me to put in more money. In the end, I lost around £20,000 of my savings (some of which I got back).
“The hardest part wasn’t just the financial loss; it was the shame and guilt I felt. I couldn’t bring myself to tell my family at first because I felt I’d let them down. I now know how important it is to be cautious and scam aware online. If something doesn’t feel right, stop, speak to someone you trust, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Fear of scams is holding many older people back from using online services. The data shows that 40% say the fear of being scammed prevents older relatives and friends living life to the fullest, while 45% agree it stops them enjoying simple things online like shopping, banking, or staying in touch with family. As a result, 42% of people surveyed say they feel guilty they can’t do more to keep their older relatives safe online.
Free nationwide scam training school
With one in ten (13%) over 65s feeling anxious every time they go online because of the fraud risk, and 61% of all respondents saying digital skills could make everyday life easier for older Brits, Virgin Media O2 is launching Scam School sessions across the UK.
The free, in-person sessions are available to older and vulnerable people and are being delivered in partnership with Good Things Foundation as part of the business’ Connect More initiative. It’s being run by Virgin Media O2 ‘scam buster’ staff who are granted up to five days of paid leave annually to volunteer with good causes through it’s “Take Five” program.
They’re designed to help people with low digital confidence, giving them practical skills to spot and stop scams as well as providing advice on how they can get additional support to stay safe online.
From recognising phishing emails and fake delivery texts, to creating stronger passwords and protecting personal data online, the Scam Schools will help those at risk feel more confident online and better protected against increasingly sophisticated fraud.
The free-to-attend sessions are being advertised locally and on Virgin Media O2’s website. People can register their interest in attending a session here and community groups looking to host a session can also find out more online.
Brits who can’t make a session in person can also visit Good Things Foundation’s Learn My Way platform to complete a free online learning module on fraud and scams.
Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “Scammers are becoming ever more convincing and anyone can fall victim. From fake investment opportunities to messages claiming to be from trusted banks or delivery companies, fraudsters are always changing their tactics. Worryingly, it’s often-older people who are most at risk.
“At Virgin Media O2, we’re committed to keeping people safe online by blocking millions of fraudulent texts before they reach our customers, and by helping communities build the skills and confidence they need to spot and avoid scams.
“Scam School is the latest example of how we’re stepping up to protect people from fraud – because everybody deserves to feel safe online and to use the internet to make the most of every day.”
Helen Milner OBE, CEO of Good Things Foundation, said: “Too many people still lack the skills and confidence to spot scams, leaving them vulnerable to fraud at a time when so much of everyday life happens online. By working with Virgin Media O2 during Get Online Week, we’re helping local communities build the confidence they need to stay safe and make the most of life online. Together, we can ensure no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world.”
Swerve the Scammers
The Scam School sessions build on Virgin Media O2’s wider Swerve the Scammers campaign, part of its ongoing work to protect communities from fraud. This year, the company has blocked over 600 million scam messages so far and rolled out AI-powered scam call detection to flag potentially fraudulent calls to customers before they even pick up the phone. Brits can find out more about the campaign here.
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