When Love Island’s Amy Hart spoke to the BBC about losing £5,000 to fraudsters posing as her bank, a lot of people will have had the same uncomfortable thought: that could have been me.
Amy describes herself as confident with tech. She didn’t fit the stereotype of a “typical” scam victim. And that’s exactly the point. The people behind these crimes are professional, organised and very, very good at what they do.
Her experience also comes at a time when scam attempts are soaring, with delivery scams, fake bank calls, prize draws, and bogus job offers all in heavy rotation. And, with Christmas approaching – and everyone busier, more distracted and spending more – it’s prime time for criminals.
Here’s what Amy’s story can teach the rest of us, and how to protect yourself over the festive period.
What happened to Amy Hart
Amy has spoken publicly about how she was tricked into handing over access to her bank account, losing £5,000 in the process.
The key tactics will feel familiar to anyone who’s had a suspicious call or text:
- A convincing phone number: When she looked the number up online, it appeared to belong to her bank’s fraud team. This is called “number spoofing”, where criminals can fake the caller ID that appears on your phone.
- Details that felt real: The caller talked her through recent transactions, including genuine ones she recognised. That made the “dodgy” one in the list sound believable.
- Pressure and panic: She was told she needed to act quickly to protect her money. Under pressure, she shared a security code, which actually gave the criminals access to her account.
She later recovered the money through her bank, but the emotional impact stayed with her.
Why Christmas is prime time for scammers
Criminals know that December is chaotic. We’re shopping online, tracking deliveries, rearranging plans and juggling work, school events and family visits. That creates the perfect conditions for scams to slip through. Add in the rise of AI-generated voices, deepfake videos and polished scam websites, and it’s no wonder so many people are getting caught out.
Most scams don’t rely on hacking your devices, they rely on hacking you. The goal is to get you to act first and think later. You can’t spot every scam, but knowing the main patterns helps you spot more of them. Here are some of the big ones to look out for this Christmas:
- Fake delivery texts and emails: You get a message saying a parcel couldn’t be delivered, or there’s a small fee to “release” it. The link takes you to a fake payment or login page.
- Bank and “fraud team” impersonation: Just like in Amy’s case, someone calls claiming to be from your bank’s fraud department, saying your account is at risk. They may ask you to read out a code sent to your phone, ask you to move money to a “safe account” or send you links to “secure” websites.
- Festive prize draws and giveaways: You’re told you’ve won a Christmas hamper, voucher or tech bundle – but you need to pay a small “release fee” or share personal details to claim it. Genuine competitions don’t ask you to pay to receive a prize. If you didn’t enter, you haven’t won.
- Fake charity appeals: Criminals set up fake charity websites, social media pages or leaflets, often using names and logos that look close to well-known organisations. If you want to donate, go directly to the charity’s official website (check it’s registered with the Charity Commission) and avoid donating via links sent in unsolicited messages
- Too-good-to-be-true job offers and side hustles: With the cost of Christmas biting, “easy money” scams can be tempting – from mystery shopper roles to crypto “opportunities”. If an offer promises high income for little effort, or asks you to use your own bank account “for the company”, walk away.
Five ways to protect yourself this Christmas
You don’t need to become paranoid – just build a few habits into your daily life.
- Pause before you act: If a message or call makes you feel panicked, rushed or guilty, that’s your first warning sign. Take a breath, and give yourself permission to hang up or ignore it while you check.
- Use trusted contact routes: If “your bank” calls, end the call and ring back on the number on your card or through the official app. If “Royal Mail” texts, go directly to the Royal Mail website by typing the address into your browser.
- Never share full security codes: One-time passcodes are for you to log in or authorise payments – not for anyone on the phone. If someone asks for a full code, it’s almost certainly a scam.
- Keep an eye on your accounts: Check your bank and credit card statements regularly over the holidays. Set up alerts in your banking app so you’re notified about new payees or large payments.
- Talk about it: Share stories like Amy’s with friends and family, especially anyone who’s more vulnerable or busy, such as older relatives or new parents. Normalising the conversation makes it harder for scammers to use shame as a weapon.
This Christmas, the most useful gift you can give yourself – and the people you care about – is a healthy dose of scepticism. Slow things down, double-check, and don’t be afraid to hang up, delete or say no.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct. Even the most “tech savvy” among us can be caught off guard, and that’s exactly why we need to look out for each other.
