Fraud reports across Wiltshire have been climbing. The county mirrors a national trend that saw over four million confirmed fraud cases in 2025, an 11% jump on the year before. Some fraud types cause more damage here than others, and a few target very specific age groups.
Courier Fraud Hits Older Residents the Hardest
Courier fraud is one of the cruellest scam types reported in Wiltshire, and it overwhelmingly targets people aged 70 and above. Nationally, those aged between 76 and 96 account for around 62% of all courier fraud reports.
It usually starts with a phone call. Someone claiming to be a police officer or bank official says the victim’s account has been compromised. They’ll sound professional and sometimes already know the victim’s name and address. The victim is then talked into withdrawing cash, purchasing gold or handing over their bank card to a courier who arrives at their door.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, courier fraud losses topped £21 million nationally, with the average stolen per victim standing at around £15,311. A growing tactic involves persuading victims to visit several jewellers over a period of days, buying expensive items before passing them to a courier.
Romance Scams and the Long Con
Romance fraud develops slowly. A scammer builds a fake relationship with their target, often over weeks or months, before asking for money. In Wiltshire, victims lost an average of £8,533 per case between 2025 and 2026, with total losses reaching over £1.35 million.
Nationally, romance fraud losses rose 23% in 2025, totalling £39.2 million. Adults aged 55 to 74 are the most financially affected group, accounting for almost half of total losses. The scam frequently pivots into a fake investment pitch, where the person you’ve been talking to recommends a “private” trading platform or cryptocurrency opportunity. If access to an investment comes only through a link from someone you’ve met online, that alone should be a red flag.
Fake Prize Draws and Advance Fee Fraud
Advance fee fraud losses jumped 65% in 2025 to £58.4 million. One of the most common versions is the fake prize draw. You’ll get a letter, email or social media message telling you you’ve won a large cash sum. There’s just one catch: you need to pay a “processing fee” or “tax charge” before your winnings can be released. That fee is the scam. There’s no prize.
Report Fraud’s advice is clear: no legitimate lottery or prize draw operator will ever ask you to pay a fee to collect your winnings. Genuine UK prize draws publish their entry terms, odds and prize details openly before anyone parts with money. If you didn’t enter a competition, you can’t have won it. Older adults are most often targeted by this type, and a secondary scam sometimes follows where fraudsters pose as lawyers offering to help recover the lost money for yet another fee.
Investment Scams Are Growing Fastest
Investment fraud was the largest APP (authorised push payment) fraud category by value in 2025, with losses surging 40% to £221.5 million. These scams promise high returns on everything from cryptocurrency to property developments, and they’re often presented through slick websites and professional-looking brochures.
Scammers reach people through social media adverts, search results and messaging apps. They’ll offer early “returns” to build trust and then encourage larger deposits. By the time the victim tries to withdraw, the platform disappears. The FCA keeps a register of authorised firms, and checking it before committing money will save a lot of pain.
Purchase Fraud: High Volume, Lower Individual Losses
Purchase scams accounted for 71% of all authorised push payment fraud cases in the UK in 2025. Losses hit £118.1 million nationally, but the typical loss per case is lower than other fraud types.
You pay for something online, and it never arrives. It could be a concert ticket, a phone, or a holiday let. These scams pop up on social media marketplaces and fake retail pages. Young adults under 35 are the most common victims, with those aged 21 to 30 making up the single largest group of purchase fraud reports. If a seller pushes you to pay by bank transfer instead of through the platform, walk away.
What Wiltshire Residents Can Do Right Now
Wiltshire’s mix of rural communities and an older demographic makes parts of the county particularly attractive to scammers running courier fraud, romance scams and fake prize draws. The common thread across every fraud type covered here is pressure. Scammers want you to act before you think.
Slowing down, checking credentials and talking to someone you trust before sending money will stop the majority of these scams dead. Report any suspicious contact on 0300 123 2040 or through the Report Fraud website.
