Skip to content

More than one in five over 65s in the UK have been a victim of fraud in the last year

Kara Gammell
Written by  Kara Gammell
Alicia Hempsted
Reviewed by  Alicia Hempsted
5 min read
Updated: 21 Jan 2025

An older person in England and Wales becomes a victim of fraud every 56 seconds according to research by MoneySuperMarket

mature man and woman using laptop together

According to an analysis of the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) by MoneySuperMarket, more than a fifth (22.7%) of respondents aged 65 and older reported being the victim of fraud in the last year. 

This is the equivalent to over 559,471 older people across England and Wales and means that over 65s are now nearly 46 times more likely to be a victim of fraud than to be mugged (78,000 incidents). 

Alicia Hempsted, finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “It's alarming to see how people over 65 are being targeted by fraudsters and hackers. 

“Scammers count on this demographic being more vulnerable than other age groups as they often place a lot of trust in financial institutions, may feel too embarrassed to report a loss, and can struggle with using digital technology. 

“According to MoneySuperMarket analysis, a person over 65 is now nearly 46 times more likely to be a victim of fraud than to be mugged. This not only results in significant financial losses but also causes emotional distress for victims.”  

With fraudsters – and technology – becoming more sophisticated than ever before, spotting an online scam can be harder than you think. 

Here are a few ways to stay safer online. 

Slow Down

Don't rush into clicking links or responding to emails. If something seems suspicious, take your time to verify its authenticity. 

Use Strong Passwords

Create complex passwords that are hard to guess. A good way to make your password difficult to crack is by combining three random words to create a password (for example bicycledogsun).  

Avoid the most common passwords that criminals can easily guess (like ‘password’) or using your birthday, your favourite sports team or the name of your pet. Most of these details can be found within your social media profile.  

Keep tabs on your finances

Keep a close eye on your credit report and bank/credit card statements. Sign up for a free credit report tool, like MoneySuperMarket’s Credit Score, so you can see all your account balances in one place and be notified when your credit report is updated monthly, meaning you can act quickly if you spot anything of concern. 

Install security software

Ensure that your computer or device has up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software. Regularly scan your system to detect and remove any malicious programs. Trusted security software adds an extra layer of defence against online threats. 

Secure your devices

Regularly update your WiFi Router, operating system and apps to protect against security vulnerabilities.   

Avoid clicking on suspicious links

Be cautious of unsolicited emails, messages, or pop-up ads that may contain links to potentially harmful sites.  

Avoid clicking on these links, as they could lead you to phishing sites or download malware onto your device. Stick to official websites and use bookmarks to navigate. Remember, shopping links from search engines are not a guarantee of the legitimacy of the site. 

Resist the urge to overshare

Be mindful of the information you share online, especially on social media and unfamiliar websites. Never give debit or credit card numbers, PINs, or other personal information in response to a cold caller, unsolicited email, text or online request.  

A genuine bank or organisation would never contact you unsolicited and ask you for your pin, full password, or to move money into another account.  

Just say no

Never let somebody talk you into downloading software to your device or to log on to your computer or tablet remotely. 

Pay on plastic

For those who are worried about using your credit or debit card online for fear that your details may fall in the wrong hands, you can use a prepaid credit card.  

A prepaid card allows you to pre-load it with cash which is not registered to your bank account or home address. Meaning, that like a pay-as-you-go mobile, if it was used fraudulently, only the money on that card would be at risk. 

Ask for help

If you're unsure about something, seek advice from a trusted source or professional. If you think you have been the victim of fraud, you can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk


Substantiation: 22.7pc of 12.7 million people over the age of 65 as per Gov = 559,471 people age 65+ were victims of fraud. 31,536,000 seconds in a year - 31,536,000 seconds/559,471 people =56.367 person over 65 per second

Source: Gov.uk Crime in England & Wales June 2024