UK sees sharp rise in email & text online scams since 2022
New research from the DNS Research Federation has revealed a significant rise in the frequency of online scams via email and text messages since 2022.
According to the study conducted by YouGov, the average person now receives approximately 240 scam emails or texts each year, with one in eight receiving at least double that amount monthly.
The study surveyed over 2,000 adults in both 2022 and 2024. It noted that the percentage of people encountering online scams through email or text messages rose from 92% in 2022 to 96% today. The report highlighted that over half a billion pounds were stolen by criminals in the first half of 2023, with nearly 80% of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud beginning online. These statistics underscore the increasing severity of the issue.
The frequency of scam messages has also escalated. In 2024, 37% of respondents reported receiving scam messages more than once a week, up from 34% in 2022. Additionally, 51% of those surveyed now receive at least one scam message weekly.
Brand names often feature in these scam messages, adding to their plausibility. Around a third of respondents indicated that they had encountered scam messages involving familiar brand names. Of these, 11% said they overlooked signs of a scam due to the presence of a brand name, while 9% mistook the message for being genuine. The same proportion (9%) believed messages from trusted brands to be authentic naturally.
Emily Taylor, Chief Executive of DNS Research Federation, commented on the findings: "Internet crime has become an unsettling norm. Our data reveals that nearly every adult in the UK faces more than 240 scam attempts annually, each with the potential to cause serious harm. Despite this, the perpetrators largely evade justice, creating a culture of impunity. Over the past two years, the situation has worsened: people are receiving more scam attempts and spending more time worrying about them. Although there's a slight increase in awareness on how to report them, it remains a minor improvement in the face of a growing problem. At the DNS Research Federation, we believe in the Internet's overwhelmingly positive impact on people's lives. At the same time, there is a need for a whole of society approach to combat cybercrime."
Lucien Taylor, Chief Strategy Officer at DNS Research Federation, added: "We have resolved at DNS Research Federation to build — and make available to everyone in the UK — a simple tool that, in just a few clicks, will allow people to check the trust scores of any domain name, based on reported links with abuse and online crime. This will help consumers to make informed decisions about how to stay safe online. We also want to help brands that have been victims of online crime and to mitigate the huge reputational and economic damage that can follow. We invite policymakers, companies, consumer groups, think tanks and trade bodies to join us as, together, we tackle cybercrime and protect the integrity of the domain name system which is the keystone to a free and open Internet and the innumerable benefits it can bring to all our lives."
When asked about their concerns over online scams, around half of the respondents expressed worry about falling victim to scams, with women and older age groups displaying heightened apprehension. Specifically, 56% of female respondents and 58% of those over 55 years old were concerned about becoming victims. In comparison, 43% of male respondents and 38% of those under 35 felt the same.
The findings also pointed to significant scepticism regarding the effectiveness of reporting scams. While 23% of respondents believed there was no point in reporting email or text scams as nothing would be done, 17% were unsure who to approach for reporting such issues.
In conclusion, the study by DNS Research Federation highlights the growing challenge of online scams in the UK, with increasing frequency and effectiveness of scams posing a substantial threat to individuals and brands alike.
