Nationwide Building Society warning: Surge in 'life-ruining' scams targeting Britain's young men

Patrick O'Donnell
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:19:18 +0000

Nationwide Building Society has issued a stark scam warning to Britain's young men as fraudsters continue to "exploit vulnerability" to steal cash.

Young men in their twenties have emerged as the primary victims of sextortion fraud, according to an analysis of 50 cases conducted by the building society.

The building society's review found that 47 per cent of those targeted fell within the 20-29 age bracket, while an overwhelming 98 per cent of identified victims were male.

Victims ranged in age from just 13 to 70 years old, with the average age being 25.

Additional polling of more than 2,000 consumers revealed that 16 to 24 year olds expressed the greatest concern about younger people sharing intimate images, with 71 per cent worried compared to 61 per cent across all age groups.

Jim Winters, the head of Economic Crime at Nationwide, said: "These cases illustrate how scammers exploit vulnerability, urgency, and shame especially among younger people who may have limited experience with fraud or feel too embarrassed to ask for help early."

He added: "Our insight and research shows how easily private and sensitive information can be used against us.

"The safest way to protect yourself is not to share anything that you wouldn't want in the wrong hands. Maybe easier said than done but the damage caused here is far beyond financial."

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Nearly a quarter of students surveyed had themselves fallen victim to fraud. The building society's case files reveal consistent patterns in how these scams unfold.

One victim, identified only as Sean, connected with someone through Tinder and built what appeared to be a genuine online relationship.

Following the exchange of images and video calls, he received threatening demands for money, with the fraudster directing him to install payment apps and share his screen via WhatsApp and Instagram. He shared: "They said they'd ruin my life"

Making an initial payment only triggered further extortion attempts. Another case involved Harrison, who was approached on Instagram by someone pretending to be a young woman.

After being persuaded to continue conversations on a different messaging platform, he shared private photographs. The criminals then threatened to distribute the images unless he purchased Apple gift cards, prompting him to confide in his father, who contacted police.

Nationwide has outlined several warning signs to help people protect themselves from these cruel schemes. Individuals should pause before sharing any images or personal information, particularly with someone they have never met face-to-face.

Fraudsters frequently attempt to move conversations onto different platforms with less security, so resisting such requests is crucial.

Victims should never send money, gift cards or codes, even when threatened, as paying once invariably leads to additional demands.

The building society emphasised that shame is the weapon scammers rely upon most heavily, urging anyone targeted to speak with a trusted friend, family member, the police or their bank.