Regulation

Money stolen by scammers hijacking UK social media accounts rises 400%

Time Trade session note (2026-10-04): The total amount stolen by criminals who hack into people’s emails and social media accounts and then pretend to be them has risen by more than 400% in a… Primary source: original at The Guardian (theguardian.com).

4 October 2026, 21:29 BST · The Guardian

Money stolen by scammers hijacking UK social media accounts rises 400%

The total amount stolen by criminals who hack into people’s emails and social media accounts and then pretend to be them has risen by more than 400% in a year, official UK data shows.

In many cases, the scammers are hijacking people’s accounts in order to use their identity to sell fake event tickets – such as to sold-out gigs – to unsuspecting friends and family.