‘One word’ that could mean you’re about to lose money | Personal Finance | Finance

People could lose an average of £300 if they don’t recognize this one-word issue every time they open their email. There are a few red flags that people should look out for in order to protect what is rightfully theirs.

Email scams, also known as ‘phishing’ scams, have become increasingly common as fraudsters find new ways to try to steal your personal and banking details from miles away. In the digital world, people need to be constantly alert as these threats can land in their inboxes at any time.

These scams usually involve a scammer sending an email pretending to be from a well-known brand or retailer to trick you into thinking the email is real. More often than not, people who fall for this scam are sent to a fake website and innocently hand over their personal information willingly, leading to them losing most of their hard-earned money.

In some cases, people don’t even need to enter any details as the email can deliver malware that can infect your computer, tablet or mobile phone. BBC’s Morning Live program claimed In a recently published report On average email scam victims were found to lose around £300 per incident.

Data shows fraud remains one of the UK’s biggest financial threats, with more than two million cases between January and June 2025. However, this is only the reported figure; countless victims potentially remain silent out of embarrassment or embarrassment.

If you suspect an email is from a scammer, do not click any links or download attachments. Consumer champion Which? shared recently some warning signs It’s a system Brits can arm themselves with to avoid becoming victims if a fraudster chooses to target them with a dangerous email link.

‘One word’ impersonal greetings

Which? Some email scams claim to have your name on the first line of the message. But not all do this.

A spokesperson said: “Sometimes scam emails just say ‘Hello’ and don’t include a name, or use your email address after ‘Hello’. This impersonal approach is a sign that a scammer is likely behind the email.”

Check the address

Which? Experts claim that scam emails may come from an “unrecognized email address” consisting of random numbers, letters or words. However, some scammers are starting to get savvy and rely on Brits to take a quick look at the address, missing the obvious warning signs.

In some cases, criminals try to appear as close to the brand or company as possible while making subtle spelling mistakes such as extra or missing letters. Scammers may also try to trick people by replacing the letter ‘O’ with a zero that looks almost indistinguishable.

Scams are getting more sophisticated in 2026, but mistakes are bound to happen somewhere as criminals try to cover their tracks. Which? He claims that there are some steps in which everything should be reviewed with a fine comb:

More tips to protect yourself online

• Place your cursor anywhere in the email where you would usually expect a link. For example, check the bottom of the email for ‘contact us’ buttons or links to terms and conditions.
• It’s also worth checking that any dates in the email are correct. Often scammers forget this detail.
• Take a look at the quality of the logos in the email. For example, if the images are pixelated, this can strongly indicate that the email is a scam.
• If an email suddenly asks you to update or re-enter your personal information or banking information, it’s likely a scam. Most companies never ask for personal information via email.
• Scammers will try to pressure you with time-sensitive offers, encouraging you to act now or miss out on ‘exclusive’ deals. It’s better to miss out on a real deal than risk your personal information.

If you’re still unsure if a scammer is behind the email you received, contact the brand or company directly. You can use email, social media or via the ‘contact us’ page (by going to the website yourself) to get in touch directly.

Report an email scam

Despite these alarming figures, banks managed to prevent £870 million worth of attempted fraud through their security systems, blocking around 70% of all cases. People can report these dangerous emails by forwarding the message to report@phishing.gov.uk.

This service allows the National Cyber ​​Security Center (NCSC) to analyze and remove malicious websites. Reporting a scam is free and only takes a minute.

By reporting phishing attempts, you can reduce the amount of fraudulent communications you receive, make yourself a more difficult target for scammers, and protect others from online cybercrime.