‘Excessive-stakes’ frauds and pretend texts amongst scammers’ ways, Barclays warns

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Excessive-stakes fraud and conventional textual content message scams are being favoured by fraudsters, based on information from a serious financial institution.

Barclays stated that its personal information signifies funding scams, which regularly contain important quantities of cash, are making up a rising proportion of the worth of fraud circumstances reported to it.

Funding scams accounted for 47% of the worth of claims in 2025, up from 39% in 2024 and 32% in 2023, Barclays stated.

Such frauds characterize simply 7.1% of the entire quantity of claims, the financial institution stated.

Barclays warned concerning the rising use of deepfakes to make funding alternatives seem real.

However the financial institution additionally stated its information signifies that scammers are additionally pivoting in direction of extra conventional channels, equivalent to faux texts.

Such scams usually surge throughout key moments equivalent to tax deadlines and peak durations for postal deliveries.

Barclays’ fraud and scams knowledgeable Kirsty Adams stated: “Scammers are persevering with to undertake new ways, and in consequence, we’re seeing a shift within the nature of scams reported by our clients.

“Whereas fraudsters are focusing on victims with higher-stakes alternatives, we're witnessing the resurgence of scams coming by way of textual content message.

“Looking forward to 2026, we’re hopeful we'll see continued progress within the combat in opposition to fraud, within the type of cross-industry collaboration.”

Barclays analysed account buyer information from January 1 2023 to October 31 2025.

Listed below are some recommendations from Ms Adams for staying forward of scammers in 2026:

1. Don't disclose private particulars. Your financial institution is not going to ask you to your debit card Pin, your password, or your full on-line banking login particulars.

Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and situations apply.

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Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and situations apply.

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2. Confirm firm particulars. If you're unsure about an organization that has contacted you by cellphone, it's at all times price double-checking their contact particulars. Verify official web sites and name the listed quantity immediately.

3. Take your time. When making purchases on-line or committing to an funding, don't be pressured into making any hasty choices. All the time do not forget that professional organisations shouldn't push you into something.

4. Be sceptical of guarantees. Stay sceptical of any promise of unrealistic funding returns.

5. Watch out for rip-off texts. If you're despatched a one-time passcode to authorise a cost or registration, at all times learn the complete message to verify it matches up with what you might be doing. If it doesn't, cease the transaction and don't use the code or give it to anybody.