Scams can surface in various forms, however, they are becoming increasingly sophisticated in order to reel in more unwitting victims. They can occur over the phone, via text or email, or even through websites which appear to be legitimate. As a result, Britons are being urged to pay close attention so they do not end up parting with their hard-earned cash. 

As Mr Khanna explained, social media has now become the easiest place for fraudsters to obtain all of a person’s information – with posts about the number one song on the day someone was born, or their pet’s first name providing an open door to guessing security answers. 

As a result, Britons are urged to have the appropriate privacy settings in place on apps like Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and think about the kind of content they engage with. 

As a general rule, people should refrain from publicly sharing key details such as their date of birth or mother’s maiden name as this information can be used by fraudsters to steal a person’s identity.

Next, Mr Khanna strongly urged Britons to keep a “sharp eye” on communications, and said: “Criminals can easily make fraudulent communications look very convincing; therefore, it’s vital that you always carefully check your emails or text messages for any signs of a scam before engaging with the sender. 

“Tell-tale signs include misspellings and links that lead to an unsecure website, with no official website domain name. Secured websites will usually have a padlock or green tick in the browser bar, meaning that your information is encrypted and secure from hackers. 

This is due to the fact fraud can sometimes happen without a person even realising it, and unusual transactions could hold the key to understanding if a person has been targeted.

Reviewing credit reports and financial statements is a method of best practice, and should be done regularly. 

Mr Khanna concluded: “When taking steps to help protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud, the more aware you are of the best ways to keep your key details and information safe, the better.

“If you do find yourself on the receiving end of a scam call, email or text, question why you are being asked for this information and don’t be afraid of saying “no”. 

“If you believe you have been a victim of fraud contact  Action Fraud, the police, and your bank, and cancel any affected cards. 

“Then go through your credit report to identify any unexpected or unusual activity, and work with the companies involved to clear up any issues.”