The exact time and day you are most likely to be scammed

People are most likely to be cheated in the afternoon, a survey suggests. A survey of more than 3,000 people in the UK who were victims of fraud in the last two years found that 43% were scammed in the afternoon, making it the most likely time of day when people said they had were victims of fraud.

Midweek is also a popular time for scammers to be successful, with Wednesday and Thursday being the most likely days when people said they were scammed. A fifth (20%) of people said they had a lot on their mind when they were scammed, while one in six (15%) said they felt tired, the Censuswide survey for Take Five to Stop Fraud found in March and April. .

Paul Maskall, spokesman for Take Five to Stop Fraud, said: “When we’re at our busiest, we’re more likely to miss red flags that might otherwise alert us that something might be a scam. That’s why it’s important to follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and stop, challenge and protect to protect yourself from fraud.

“When we’re worried or our mind is elsewhere, it can make us more susceptible to scams, or ‘scamsceptible.’ So it’s important to stop and think about whether it might be fake before parting with your money or financial and personal information.”

Almost three in 10 (29%) respondents said being a victim of fraud had a negative impact on their mental health. A third (33%) said it made them less trusting of people in general. Take Five has launched a scam-sensitive tool that can provide personalized advice to users.

Through five questions, the tool assesses some of the factors that can make people more susceptible to fraud and provides advice on what to do to stay safe. It was developed with academic Dr David Modic and can be found at www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/scamtest.

Take Five is run by banking and financial industry body UK Finance and Take Five Week runs from 13 to 19 May 2024. To help people stay safe, Take Five campaign advice to stop fraud is:

Stop – Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information can keep you safe. Challenge – Could it be fake? It’s OK to decline, refuse or ignore any request. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect yourself – Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.