Warning over spate of new ‘friendship fraud’ cases targeting older people

New TSB data shows a series of recent scams in which criminals use social media to lure people into online friendships, then extract money ranging into the tens of thousands.

TSB’s fraud expert, Stephanie Harrison, warns that ‘friendship fraud’ mirrors romance scams in its approach – with fraudsters building trust and rapport before demanding money. But this type of fraud sees victims simply seeking online contact and friendship and to combat loneliness.

In the series of cases that TSB analysed, victims made between 1 and 60 payments in a ‘friendship’ lasting several years.

In one case, a customer in their late 70s lost over £4,000 after being befriended on Instagram. After spending time to form a friendship, the individual then said they were unwell and urgently needed help for medical bills. The well-meaning customer sent a series of payments and gift cards, before contact dried up, and they realised it was fraud.

A total of 60 payments were made in a recent case, where a customer in their late 60s was befriended on a message board, where the scammer posed as a young person who required financial assistance to flee an abusive family. Sadly, this relationship spanned four years until it was reported.

A third case saw a customer in their 70s befriend a new contact on Facebook. After building trust with regular conversation, the scammer threatened to stop talking with the individual unless they sent gift cards and payments. TSB supported with a refund of over £3,000 in this case.

TSB data shows that impersonation fraud – which involves any form of fraud in which scammers pretend to be a person, or organisation – accounts for 29%2 of all bank transfer cases at TSB. And this has increased by 15% in a year. The average loss per case is over £3100.

Steph Harrison, TSB Fraud Expert, said “Scammers are targeting older and vulnerable people’s life savings, by preying on their goodwill and desire for company and friendship, with the cruel and fake promise of online companionship.

“We can all help by checking in on friends and family – and for those seeking online friendship, be wary, especially if money is involved – as you just don’t know who you’re really talking to.”