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.