Data shows 5.2 million people have fallen victim to
scams during coronavirus crisis
Research carried out by insurer Canada Life has revealed
that 5.2 million people in the UK have fallen victim to scams during the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Canada Life’s research showed that the most common
financial scams are banking scams, followed by insurance scams and pensions
scams.
Victims lost an average of £566 per scam, the research
found. 48% of people surveyed said that the scams are so convincing they are difficult
to spot. 55% stated that falling victim to a scam has taken a toll on their
mental health.
Commenting on the research, Andrew Tully, Technical Director
at Canada Life, said: ‘Falling prey to a scam can be devastating, not only for
the individual involved but also for their family and friends.
‘The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a fertile opportunity
for ‘lowlifes’ to prey on not only the vulnerable but also people who are
worried and anxious about both their health and their wealth.
‘We all need to be on our guard for any signs of fraudulent
activity as scammers continue to evolve and adopt ever more sophisticated and
ingenious ways of encouraging people to part with their hard-earned money.’