In identity theft, fraudsters impersonate people you trust. For example, they might claim to be employees of your bank, the police, the tax office (HMRC), your GP's office, courier services like Royal Mail or DPD, or even your phone or internet provider.

These scams typically begin with marketing calls, text messages, or phishing emails. For instance, you might receive a phishing email from Royal Mail or a fraudulent text message from your bank warning of suspicious activity. The fraudsters may already know your name, phone number, or email address (often due to data breaches), making their tricks more convincing.

The methods used vary depending on the type of scam. They might:

impersonate a bank employee and ask you to transfer money to a "secure account" (sometimes via text message supposedly from Santander Bank).

They claim you owe taxes to the UK's tax authority, HMRC, as is common in fraudulent scams involving calls impersonating HMRC.

They demand a small shipping fee for a package; this is typical of fraudulent text messages from courier services pretending to be Royal Mail or DPD.

Once they have gained your trust, their goal remains the same: to steal your money or personal information.

Common Types of Identity Theft

Bank Fraud

Scammers may claim there is suspicious activity on your account and ask you to transfer money to a "secure account." This is a blatant lie—these "secure accounts" belong to the scammers. Many victims report receiving fraudulent text messages impersonating well-known banks such as Santander, Barclays, and Revolut.

Police Fraud

Scammers may impersonate police officers and warn you of an investigation into your bank branch. They then ask you to transfer money. These scams, in which fraudsters impersonate police officers, are widespread and create a great deal of fear, making it easy to believe the lies. The police will never ask you to transfer money.

Frauds in the Name of the Tax and Revenue Service (HMRC)

This is one of the most common scams. Victims are told that they owe taxes, need to transfer money immediately, or are entitled to a tax refund and must provide payment details. Never respond without contacting the Tax and Revenue Service (HMRC) directly.

Delivery Service Frauds

You may receive a message asking you to pay a small fee for sending a parcel. In these fraudulent text messages or phishing emails, scammers often impersonate employees of Royal Mail or DPD. Once you pay, they often use your bank card information to steal hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Service Provider Scams

Scammers impersonate your internet or phone provider and claim there are technical problems. They may request remote access to your device to steal data, install malware, and gain access to your banking apps and passwords.