Scammers haven’t eased off as winter approaches. In fact, this is one of their busiest times of year. As people juggle bills, shopping and year-end admin, criminals take advantage of distraction and trust. The tactics may change, but the goal is always the same: to get hold of your money or personal information.
Here’s what to keep in mind this November, and why a little caution now can save a lot of stress.
HMRC: protect your National Insurance number
Your National Insurance (NI) number might seem like a harmless code on a payslip, but in the wrong hands it’s a golden key for identity fraud.
If you’re contacted unexpectedly about fuel payments, don’t click on any links or share any details. Always go directly to GOV.UK for the most accurate, up-to-date information.
- Fraudsters combine leaked data from breaches — names, addresses, dates of birth — with NI numbers to build convincing “digital profiles”
- With that profile, they can apply for credit, claim benefits in your name, and access sensitive records
- Untangling the damage can take months.
HMRC has issued a nationwide reminder to keep NI numbers secure and only share them when genuinely necessary (e.g. with HMRC, your employer or pension provider).
Banks told to step up on romance fraud
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has told banks and payment firms to do more to stop romance scams, after reviewing how they handle cases.
Scammers build trust on dating apps or social media, then push victims to make “urgent” payments for crises, visas or medical bills. The money often moves overseas and is hard to recover.
To stay safe, we all need to pause before sending money to someone we’ve only met online.
Red flags to spot
- The relationship moves fast and they avoid video calls or meeting
- They ask for secrecy or say their account is “monitored”
- Urgent requests for money for medical bills, visas or travel
- Repeated transfers that get larger over time
- Pressure to move money to new or overseas accounts — or into crypto
- Inconsistent stories, or refusal to share verifiable details
- They coach you on what to tell your bank, or ask for verification codes.
If in any doubt, stop the payment, speak to someone you trust, call your bank on 159, and report to Action Fraud. You can find out more about getting your money back after certain types of romance fraud in our handy guide.
Stay scam-safe during tax return season
Self-assessment season is prime time for phishers, with emails and texts claiming you’re due a refund or owe a penalty. They’ll push you to click a link or open an attachment that steals logins or installs malware.
What to do:
- Don’t click links or open attachments. Go to GOV.UK directly in your browser
- Beware of pressure tactics that warn you to “pay now or face legal action”
- Forward HMRC phishing emails to [email protected]
- For texts claiming to be from HMRC, forward to 60599 (HMRC’s reporting line)
- If you’ve entered details, change passwords immediately and contact your bank.
Students: Stop! Think Fraud
More than half of students say they’ve faced scams — with average losses running into hundreds of pounds. Top threats include bank-impersonation calls, fake tax rebates, “investment” pitches, and rental scams on social platforms.
Practical steps for students:
- Don’t click links or open attachments. Go directly to your bank in your browser or app.
- Slow it down: if it’s rushed or too good to be true, pause.
- Remember that banks will never ask for your PIN or full passwords.
- Check HMRC messages via GOV.UK, not links in texts.
- Don’t “help a friend” by passing money through your account — that’s money muling and it’s illegal.
- If you’re scammed, contact your bank immediately and report to Action Fraud (police on 101 in Scotland).
Good news: major phone providers tighten the net on scam calls
There’s positive movement too. Leading UK networks have signed a new Telecommunications Charter, committing to tougher, coordinated measures against scam and spoofed calls.
What this means for you:
- Fewer scam calls and texts should reach you in the first place
- Quicker help if you are targeted
- More scammers identified through joined-up systems.
Stay one step ahead
As ever, small changes can make a big difference to your online safety. Turn on two-factor authentication for your key accounts, use strong and unique passwords, and keep your devices updated.
If you receive a suspicious message, forward scam texts to 7726 (free on all networks) and report phishing emails to [email protected] — or [email protected] if it’s HMRC-related.
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