u/RefundeeOfficial

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated by the day and the gap between what people expect a scam to look like and what they actually look like has never been wider.

At Refundee, we speak with fraud victims every day. Many are intelligent, financially experienced people who did everything right and still got caught out. Most people aren't aware of how sophisticated they've become and awareness is one of the most effective ways to prevent becoming a victim.

The 10 scams we're seeing most frequently:

1. Investment & crypto scams - fake brokers, fake profits, pressure to send funds, withdrawal fees, deepfake celebrity ads (Martin Lewis, Elon Musk etc)
2. Recovery scams - criminals targeting victims again, posing as recovery agents. Often run by the same people behind the original scam
3. Property investment fraud - fake bonds, social housing schemes, collapsed developments
4. Job/task scams - "earn commission completing simple tasks" that require you to deposit your funds, usually in crypto
5. Romance scams - weeks, months or even years of relationship building before pressure to send urgent payments
6. Safe account/impersonation scams - fake HMRC, police, or bank calls telling you to move money to a "safe account" (Your bank would never ask you to move your funds to a 'safe account')
7. Purchase scams - vehicles, tickets, electronics advertised at attractive prices that never arrive
8. Unauthorised payment fraud - phishing, SIM swaps, malware used to access accounts without consent
9. Invoice scams - intercepted payment instructions targeting businesses and people paying solicitors or contractors (a big issue for house buyers sending a deposit)
10. Visa scams - fake immigration advisers charging for sponsorships and visas that don't exist

These are the 10 scams we encounter most frequently, but they are far from the only ones.

Fraudsters constantly adapt their tactics, and new scams emerge regularly. The single most important habit you can build is to pause and independently verify before sending any money, regardless of how legitimate the request appears or how much pressure you feel to act quickly.

If something doesn't feel right, trust that instinct.

We've written a full breakdown of each scam type, the warning signs, and what to do if you've been affected: refundee.com/blog/top-10-scams-uk-2026

In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator introduced the Mandatory Reimbursement Model, requiring banks to reimburse victims of authorised push payment fraud.

It was positioned as a major step forward for consumer protection.

But there’s a catch;

Victims only have 13 months to report the fraud. 

In reality, many people don’t realise they’ve been scammed until much later, meaning they can lose their right to reimbursement before they’ve even come to terms with what’s happened.

Our co-founder, William, recently spoke on BBC Money Box about this, highlighting that 66% of investment fraud cases previously refunded may no longer qualify under the new rules.

Protections designed to support victims are falling short when they need them most.

Listen to the BBC Money Box episode here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002vm74 

Read more about the issue on our website: www.refundee.com/blog/13-month-fraud-rule-change

Have you heard of Godwin Capital?

Godwin Capital, linked to property development projects, marketed loan note investments offering fixed returns. Investors were told their funds would be secured against property developments, with Blue Water Capital acting as security trustee.

Many investors were drawn in by the promise of fixed returns and property-backed security, which can create a strong sense of legitimacy.

As of June 2025, Godwin Capital has entered administration and investor losses are estimated to exceed £160 million.

Investors are looking for answers of where their funds are. Whilst the administration process takes place - investors in Godwin Capital are pursuing other avenues to recover their losses.

Taking early action may make a difference to the recovery of funds.

We have outlined the full story of Godwin Capital & potential recovery options on our website.

Read here: https://www.refundee.com/blog/godwin-capital