Santander Warns Of Surge In Project Scams By Rogue Builders

Santander UK has issued a warning about a sharp increase in scams involving bogus builders, as fraudsters exploit householders planning summer home and garden improvements.

The bank said it had seen a surge in building-related fraud during the spring and early summer, with scammers asking for large upfront payments before vanishing without a trace – or leaving behind dangerous and substandard work. In many cases, fraudsters claimed to hold professional qualifications, duping victims into handing over thousands of pounds for work that was never completed.

The trend is detailed in Santander’s latest “scamtracker” report, which monitors so-called authorised push payment (APP) fraud – where victims are tricked into transferring money directly into criminals’ accounts. According to the bank, more than half (57%) of all APP fraud claims between April and June were linked to purchase scams, with building-related fraud emerging as the fastest-growing category.

Cases involving rogue tradespeople rose by 22% compared with the previous quarter, with victims most often targeted in relation to roofing, gardening, and landscaping jobs. The increase was particularly stark among older customers: over-80s accounted for a rising share of reports, with building scams making up 58% of all purchase scam claims in this age group, up from just over a third at the start of the year.

Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, warned consumers to remain vigilant despite a fall in the overall sums lost to fraud in recent months. “With longer days and warmer weather, it’s a popular time for jobs around the home and garden – and criminals are capitalising,” he said. “We’ve seen over £700,000 stolen through building scams alone in just three months. Don’t let scammers cast a shadow over your summer.”

The bank is urging householders to avoid making hasty decisions and to be wary of unsolicited offers of work. It advises seeking trusted recommendations, obtaining multiple quotes, and never agreeing to payments or contracts on the spot.

Beyond building scams, Santander also highlighted a steep rise in cases involving fake text messages, often claiming to be from utility companies, government bodies, or relating to winter fuel payments and fines. These scams typically direct victims to bogus websites where they are asked to enter card details, which fraudsters then use to link their cards to new digital wallets.

Scams involving digital wallet registration rose by more than 70% between April and June, with over £1.8 million reported stolen via this method alone.

In total, £15.7m was lost to fraud across all scam types in the second quarter of 2025, a 15% drop on the previous three months. But experts warn that the underlying tactics are becoming more targeted and convincing, with criminals continuing to adapt to seasonal trends and vulnerabilities – particularly among older customers.