87% of UK Adults Have Encountered Scams, New Survey Reveals

The internet can be an incredible place, but in spite of the fact that this is the case it can also be a real hub for scams that can trick unsuspecting users into losing their valuable money. A new study from Ofcom just revealed the extent of online scams, and the findings suggest that the problem appears to be growing with all things having been considered and taken into account.

According to an Ofcom survey of 2,097 British adults, 87% have seen some kind of scam related content online. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 46% actually fell victim to these scams, with 25% saying that they lost money due to this. 21% stated that their financial losses exceeded £1,000, and there are all sorts of scams at play that can result in these rather severe financial mishaps.

Impersonation fraud seems to be especially rampant, with around 51% of the people who responded to questions within this Ofcom survey stating that they have fallen victim to it in the past. Another major scam area is that of counterfeit goods. 42% of survey respondents stated that they bought an item online only to realize that it was counterfeit when it was finally delivered to them.

Scam artists on the internet are also quick to prey on people who want to improve their life circumstances. They do this through investment schemes because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up tricking unwary consumers into believing in absurd returns only for them to lose all of the money they invested.

As for where the scams were seen, 30% stated that they received them via email. 23% said that social media was the source of the scams they encountered, and that seems to suggest that malicious actors are exploiting every possible avenue that can get them in touch with potential victims.

The internet landscape is increasingly starting to seem like the wild west. More work must be done to protect consumers from those that mean them harm.