Urgent warning after pensioner loses £4,000 in ‘cruel’ friendship scam

Older and vulnerable individuals are increasingly falling victim to a "cruel" wave of online "friendship fraud", a leading bank has warned.

TSB highlighted how criminals exploit people's loneliness and desire for connection to extract money.

While many victims make just a single payment, some cases reveal a far more protracted and devastating impact.

One instance, analysed by the bank, involved a customer in their late sixties who made 60 payments over four years.

They were befriended on a message board by a scammer posing as a young person needing financial aid to flee an abusive family; this relationship endured for four years until reported.

Another victim, a customer in their late seventies, lost over £4,000 after forming a bond on social media.

After cultivating a friendship, the scammer claimed illness and urgent need for medical bills. The unsuspecting customer sent multiple payments and gift cards before contact ceased, revealing the deception.

Another victim, a customer in their late seventies, lost over £4,000 after forming a bond on social media (PA Wire)

A third scenario saw a customer in their seventies develop trust with a new contact, only for the scammer to resort to emotional blackmail, threatening to end communication unless gift cards and payments were sent.

TSB said its data shows the average loss per case of impersonation fraud, which involves any form of fraud in which scammers pretend to be a person or an organisation, is more than £3,100.

Steph Harrison, a fraud expert at TSB, said: “Scammers are targeting older and vulnerable people’s life savings, by preying on their goodwill and desire for company and friendship, with the cruel and fake promise of online companionship.

“We can all help by checking in on friends and family – and for those seeking online friendship, be wary, especially if money is involved – as you just don’t know who you’re really talking to.”

How to avoid friendship fraud

Here are some suggestions from Ms Harrison to avoid friendship fraud:

• Online platforms can be a great way to meet people with similar interests, and to strike up friendships, but remain suspicious and do not give personal information or money away to someone that you cannot verify as real.
• With the use of AI (artificial intelligence), fraudsters can be even more convincing now, with AI-produced images that look authentic.
• It can be difficult to discuss friendships and online contact, but being open, if possible, can make all the difference when it comes to fraud. Get friendly, impartial advice about your online connection from someone close by, who can help you spot holes in someone’s story that you hadn’t thought of yourself.
• People should also check in on friends and family members, particularly those who may be vulnerable, to sense check who they are talking with online, and whether it could be a fraud.
• Fraudsters concoct elaborate and emotive stories to demand money. Be wary of any such requests, and if the conversation turns to money, it is time to stop. No matter how friendly the individual sounds online, it could all be false – and just a cruel ploy to get at your money.

A customer aged in their late 60s was befriended on a message board, where the scammer posed as a young person who required financial assistance to flee an abusive family

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “So-called friendship fraud is an especially horrible and insidious type of scam and it’s good to see it highlighted in this way to help put us all on our guard.

“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.

“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.

“Age UK works with older people across the county to help keep them safe from scams.”

Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, said: “This is a particularly cruel scam that preys on older people who may be living alone and in need of human connection.

“Scammers often try to pressure people by claiming that they need cash to deal with an emergency.

“Be wary if your relationship with this person escalates quickly and if they make excuses for not meeting in person or over a video call.

“If you think you have lost money to a friendship scammer, contact your bank immediately and report it to Report Fraud or Police Scotland.

“Friendship fraud can take a serious toll on your mental health and you might find it helpful to talk to someone about what you’re going through, such as Mind or Victim Support.”