More than 20 million UK adults have signed up to a subscription without realising it, and of these, 4.7 million are STILL paying for a subscription they didn’t ask for, according to new figures released today by National Trading Standards. The data reveal the widespread impact of so-called ‘silent scams’ that involve low value but high-volume thefts.
Silent scams can include ‘subscription traps’, where consumers are automatically signed up to regular payments after making a single purchase or agreeing to a free trial, as well as one-off purchases based on misleading information where the item is of poor quality and not as expected. Due to their relatively low value, these payments often go unnoticed, unchallenged and unreported.
The research also reveals that UK consumers would need to have an average of £143 stolen before they would even consider reporting a scam – a threshold that lots of criminals are exploiting. Nearly one in five (18%) scam victims who didn’t report the crime said the amount stolen was too small to be worth reporting.
The silent scam epidemic in numbers:
- 38% of people have signed up to a subscription without realising it
- Of these, nearly a quarter (23%) are still unknowingly paying for these subscriptions
- 17% didn’t realise quickly money was leaving their account, and 8% took over three months to notice
- 44% have ordered an item online that turned out to be poor quality or a fake.
Whilst the profits from criminal tactics like ‘subscription traps’ may seem small individually, together they represent a large and growing threat to UK consumer confidence and people’s personal finances.
Louise Baxter, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said:
“Criminals are draining UK bank accounts one small payment at a time. These ‘silent scams’ are stealing millions from UK households every year, often without victims even knowing. It might be a subscription you never agreed to or a product that wasn’t what it seemed. But these crimes are just as serious and just as damaging. We’re urging everyone to check their bank statements regularly and report all scams, no matter the amount. If we stay silent, the criminals win.”
NTS has launched a free app that will make it easier for people to protect themselves using their phone. The app includes scam alerts, practical prevention tips, clear advice on what to do if targeted and signposts to trusted sources of help. People will also have free access to NTS’ scam-fighting training on their phone, helping people to protect themselves and their loved ones. To download the app, visit https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 and report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.