Latest Scam Trends Highlight Growing Identity and Email Risks

Recent discussions on BBC Morning Live with consumer expert Nick Stapleton have highlighted a concerning rise in everyday fraud tactics affecting ordinary individuals across the UK. 

From email hacking and spoofing to cold calls about compensation claims, these cases illustrate how fraudsters are refining their methods by leveraging personal data, social engineering, and psychological manipulation. 

At AJC, we believe awareness and education is the first line of defence. Below, we break down the key risks and outline the practical steps that can be taken. 

Email Hacking and Spoofing: A Growing Threat 

One viewer reported that scammers were sending emails from her address asking contacts for money. Situations like this typically fall into two categories:

1. Account compromise – where criminals gain full access to an email account.

2. Email spoofing – where messages are made to appear as though they come from a legitimate address without direct access to the account.

3. Lookalike domains – where a fraudster changes a single character in the email address to deceive recipients.

Immediate Protective Steps:

If you suspect email compromise: 

• Reset your password immediately 

• Change passwords on any other accounts using the same credentials 

• Enable two-factor authentication 

• Check sent messages and inbox rules for suspicious forwarding 

• Remove unknown third-party apps connected to your account 

• Run a malware scan on your devices 

• Keep software updated 

Suspicious phishing emails can be reported via report@phishing.gov.uk.  

From a fraud prevention perspective, multi-factor authentication remains one of the most effective barriers against account takeover. 

Cold Calls About Car Finance Refunds 

Another viewer received a call claiming compensation for mis-sold car finance. The caller quoted a previous address and requested updated details. 

This tactic illustrates how fraudsters use information from historic data breaches or illicit databases to build credibility. The objective is often not immediate financial theft, but data harvesting. Updated details can be used in future scams or sold onward. 

What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Call 

• End the call if you feel uncomfortable 

• Do not provide additional personal information 

• Monitor bank accounts for unusual activity 

• Check your credit report for unexpected changes 

• Report suspicious activity to Report Fraud 

• Consider protective registration with Cifas if identity misuse is suspected 

Protective registration can add additional verification checks when credit applications are made in your name, reducing the likelihood of fraudulent borrowing. 

Key Lessons from These Cases 

Across all these scenarios, the consistent themes are: 

• Fraudsters exploit trust and familiarity 

• Personal data is currency 

• Pressure and urgency are common manipulation tools 

• Simple security controls significantly reduce risk 

At AJC, we encourage individuals and organisations to treat personal data as a critical asset. Strong password hygiene, authentication controls and cautious data sharing are no longer optional safeguards. They are essential components of modern fraud resilience. 

How AJC Can Help 

AJC supports organisations with: 

• Fraud risk assessments 

• Staff awareness training 

• Incident response guidance 

• Identity and data protection advisory 

• Strategic fraud prevention planning 

Fraud continues to evolve. Prevention must evolve faster. 

If you would like to strengthen your fraud controls or deliver targeted awareness training within your organisation, contact AJC today.

Contact us on 020 7101 4861 or email us at info@ajollyconsulting.co.uk if you think we can help.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/articles/cx24ld241njo  

Image accreditation: Graficon Stuff (Sept 2024) from Unplash.com+. Last accessed on 11 March 2026. Available at: https://unsplash.com/illustrations/a-hand-holding-a-smart-phone-with-a-wallet-attached-to-it-DrI91hEpyDc