Which Which

Romance scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals on charity Facebook pages

Which?
Romance scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals on charity Facebook pages. Can’t view the email properly? View it in your browser
Peter -

Cyber-romance scammers

Romance scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals on charity Facebook pages that focus on sensitive topics such as mental health, bereavement and ageing. We've seen scammers lurking on pages belonging to Age UK, The Good Grief Trust and Mind.


Romance scammers often use grooming techniques, where they connect with their victims before exploiting them financially.


Remember, it's crucial to stay vigilant and cautious when interacting with strangers online, especially on platforms where vulnerability is prevalent. Learn more about the tactics used by romance scammers and see our advice on identifying genuine posters from fraudsters.

Beware of fake Microsoft fraud protection emails

If you have a Hotmail or Microsoft Outlook email account, watch out for fake ‘fraud protection’ emails that prompt you to log into your account.


These emails claim to be from the Outlook Support Team, are flagged as ‘high priority’, and state that they come from a ‘trusted sender’. The messages inform you that there’s been suspicious activity on your account and say you’ll need to click a link to log in. If you do so and enter your details, you could end up giving personal information to scammers, potentially compromising your other accounts.


Microsoft will never ask you to provide personal information or login credentials via email. Learn how to spot and report this latest Microsoft scam.

Scamwatch: fake online banking apps

One reader contacted us after falling victim to a scam when selling a £500 camera on Facebook Marketplace. When collecting the camera in person, the fraudster showed a fake Santander screen as 'proof' that the money had been transferred to the victim's bank account. In reality, the payment confirmation was fake.


Have you fallen victim to something similar? Get our expert advice on dodging scams when selling online.

Scam sharer tool
There’s now a much easier way to make us aware of scams directly with our scam sharer tool. Tell us your experiences of phishing emails, fake texts, cold calls and other types of fraud.

Stay safe,

Which? Scam Alert Team

P.S.Please share this information with your friends, family and neighbours – anyone who may find it helpful. Alternatively, they can sign up here to receive this directly to their inbox.

You're receiving this email because you signed up to the Which? Scam Alerts.

How useful would you rate the information in this email?
Which?
fb tw Instagram yt
At Which? (the Consumers’ Association) we're committed to protecting your personal information. Our privacy policy explains how we use any personal information we collect when you visit our websites.

While all our public-facing work takes place under the Which? brand, technically it's carried out by a number of different legal entities. See the About Us page for more detail.

Can we help you with anything else? If you have any questions, from changing your details, to information about our products & services, you can visit our Help Centre.

Consumers' Association, Company number: 580128, Charity No: 296072. Reg office: 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF. © Which? All Rights Reserved.
Privacy policy Unsubscribe Update your details