Politeness puts UK adults at risk of scams, report finds

Concerns about appearing impolite are leaving UK adults vulnerable to fraud, according to an anti-fraud campaign. More than half of adults surveyed, 53 per cent, reported staying on unexpected phone calls for longer than they wished over the past year. The findings come from the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign, which commissioned a survey indicating that nearly a third of people, 32 per cent, feel uncomfortable halting conversations because they worry about seeming rude.

The campaign is warning that fraudsters exploit politeness to prolong conversations, creating opportunities to build trust, apply pressure, and influence decisions. Celebrities including Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood are backing the initiative, which encourages people to resist the ingrained instinct to always be polite.

A survey of 2,000 people across the UK, conducted by Opinium Research in July, revealed that 93 per cent of respondents were raised to be polite to strangers. Fraudsters commonly use unexpected phone calls, doorstep interactions, emails, and messages to establish trust, create a sense of urgency, and pressure individuals into sharing personal details or sending money. The research also found that 26 per cent of people feel uncomfortable questioning individuals who claim to represent public organisations or essential service providers, such as banks, the police, or utility companies.

Criminals frequently impersonate trusted organisations to deceive people into parting with funds. UK Finance figures show that £92.4 million was identified as stolen through impersonation scams last year. Jess Cook, a spokesperson for Take Five to Stop Fraud, stated that criminals are aware of the discomfort people feel when ending conversations abruptly or questioning representatives of trusted organisations. She added that they leverage this politeness to maintain engagement, with each additional minute providing more scope to build trust and persuade victims to transfer money or disclose personal information.

The 'Art of Impoliteness'

The campaign promotes what it calls the 'art of impoliteness,' which aims to give individuals permission to prioritise their protection over social niceties. The advice is to stop any interaction if money or personal information is unexpectedly requested. This involves hanging up the phone, closing the door, or simply saying no. It is then recommended to verify the caller's identity independently using trusted contact details. A genuine organisation, the campaign states, will not object to an individual taking time to confirm their legitimacy.

The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign, led by UK Finance in partnership with the banking and financial services sector, urges the public to follow three key steps: Stop, Challenge, and Protect. 'Stop' means taking time to think before sharing money or information. 'Challenge' involves ending the interaction, as only criminals attempt to rush or panic individuals. 'Protect' means contacting a bank immediately if a scam is suspected and reporting the incident to the police.