UK social media and email hacking losses rise 400%

Financial losses from social media and email hacking in the UK rose by over 400% during the 2025-26 financial year. According to data from the Report Fraud service, operated by the City of London Police, total losses reached £6.3 million, up from £1.2 million in the 2024-25 period.

These hacks accounted for 69% of all reported cybercrimes, totaling 44,355 cases. Common tactics include hijacking accounts to sell fraudulent event tickets to the victim's contacts or utilizing the “Hi mum” scam, where criminals impersonate family members via WhatsApp or text to request urgent cash transfers.

Authorities note that actual losses may be higher due to underreporting by victims. To combat these trends, Report Fraud is launching an awareness campaign encouraging the use of passkeys to enhance digital security.