A retired man in his 70s lost £3,100 after forming an online friendship that turned into a sophisticated fraud, according to TSB, as the bank reports a surge in “friendship fraud” targeting vulnerable, often lonely, individuals.
The scam, which shares characteristics with romance fraud, involves criminals cultivating relationships with victims through social media groups and direct messages before gradually requesting money for a variety of fabricated needs. TSB has seen cases where victims have been defrauded out of thousands of pounds over extended periods, sometimes years.
The initial contact often occurs within Facebook groups centered around shared interests, or via Instagram direct messages. Fraudsters meticulously research their targets, tailoring opening messages to reflect common hobbies or viewpoints, effectively “grooming” victims into believing they have established a genuine connection, according to Steph Harrison, a fraud specialist at TSB.
“They can look through your posts and replicate or repeat some of that to attempt and build the relationship,” Harrison said. “It’s relatively specific, which involves work on the other side.”
Once trust is established, the requests for money begin, initially for small amounts – perhaps £50 for groceries or a similar expense – and escalating over time. Some fraudsters request larger sums, citing urgent needs like medical bills or travel expenses. Payments are often solicited through bank transfers or gift cards.
One TSB customer lost £4,000 after befriending someone on Instagram who claimed to demand immediate financial assistance for medical bills. In another case, a victim in their late 60s spent four years communicating with a scammer posing as someone fleeing an abusive family, making 60 separate payments. A pensioner who befriended someone on Facebook was threatened with the termination of the relationship if they didn’t send gift cards and money, but was later refunded £3,000 by TSB.
Experts warn that older individuals who are bereaved or experiencing loneliness are particularly susceptible to these scams. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK described the fraud as “especially horrible and insidious.”
“Older people who are lonely or bereaved are particularly vulnerable to being targeted, as criminals seek to exploit their isolation and yearning for friendship to part them from their money,” Abrahams said. “Being scammed in this way can have devastating consequences, with victims suffering catastrophic losses – destroying not just their finances but their health, wellbeing and capacity to trust other people.”
TSB advises anyone who suspects they are being targeted to immediately finish the relationship and report the incident to Report Fraud and their bank. Maintaining detailed records of all interactions with the suspected fraudster is also recommended.
Age UK offers online advice about scams and can be contacted at 0800 169 65 65. The charity also recommends reviewing social media privacy settings to limit the amount of personal information shared publicly, reducing the risk of manipulation.
