Think it’s finally safe to hire a contractor? Think again—one of the UK’s biggest banks is sounding the alarm over a surge in building scams targeting homeowners, especially our most vulnerable seniors, right as the summer renovation season heats up.
At a Glance
- Santander UK reports a 22% spike in building project scams in spring and summer 2025.
- Older adults—especially those over 80—are being ruthlessly targeted by fake tradespeople demanding hefty deposits.
- Over £700,000 lost to building scams in just three months, despite an overall drop in scam totals.
- Banks and regulators are warning homeowners as criminals exploit seasonal demand for home improvements.
Fraudsters Cash In on the Home Improvement Rush
Santander UK’s latest “scamtracker” report pulls no punches: criminals are zeroing in on homeowners eager for upgrades, targeting everything from roofing to landscaping. These fraudsters, posing as skilled tradespeople, demand large upfront payments—and either vanish or leave behind shoddy, even dangerous, work. The seasonal spike isn’t random; it’s a calculated attack, perfectly timed for when people are most likely to spend big on sprucing up their homes.
Victims are often pressured into quick decisions, with scammers using cold calls, fake credentials, and even digital wallet fraud to drain accounts. The numbers are staggering: in just the second quarter of 2025, building works scams at Santander soared by 22% compared to the previous quarter, making these schemes the fastest-rising fraud tactic in their entire dataset. The most harrowing part? The majority of the victims are everyday, law-abiding citizens—many of them retirees who simply wanted to fix a leaky roof or tidy up their gardens.
Seniors Bear the Brunt: How Scammers Exploit the Elderly
Scammers aren’t just clever; they’re ruthless. Santander’s data shows that the over-80 crowd is now the most targeted group, with building scams making up a staggering 58% of all purchase scam claims for this age bracket. Just a few months ago, that figure was 36%. That’s a jump that should send chills down anyone’s spine. The bank estimates that over £700,000 vanished from customers’ accounts due to building scams between April and June alone. For seniors, who’ve worked their whole lives and played by the rules, this is more than a financial hit—it’s a betrayal of trust at the hands of con men who know exactly how to prey on the vulnerable.
According to experts, these scams work because they exploit both social isolation and a lack of digital savvy. Older adults are more likely to trust a seemingly friendly call or an official-looking website. And once a scammer gets that initial deposit, good luck seeing it again. The real kicker? These crooks are always adapting, shifting from old-school impersonation scams to targeting home improvements—because that’s where the money is right now.
Banks, Regulators, and the Cost of Keeping Up
It’s not just individuals who are paying the price. Financial institutions are scrambling to keep up, pouring money into fraud prevention and customer education. Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, put it bluntly: even though the total amount stolen has dropped by 15% this quarter (down to £15.7 million), the risk is as high as ever. Why? Because scammers are getting smarter, shifting tactics to high-value, targeted attacks that hit hardest where people least expect it.
Banks are urging homeowners to get recommendations, shop around for multiple quotes, and—most importantly—never rush into a decision because of pressure from a so-called “expert.” Regulators are watching closely, and there’s talk of stricter oversight on trades and payment systems, especially as digital wallet scams explode (a 70% rise in claims this quarter alone). But as everyone in the real world knows, it’s a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Criminals adapt, and so must the rest of us.
The Bigger Picture: Trust, Regulation, and the War on Scams
The fallout spreads beyond just the victims. Trust in tradespeople and online service platforms is taking a nosedive, making it harder for honest workers to find business. Homeowners are more anxious than ever about who they let through the door. Meanwhile, calls grow louder for regulators to clamp down—demanding better verification for tradespeople and stronger consumer protections. Consumer advocates say the solution starts with public awareness and smarter digital literacy, especially for older adults who remain prime targets.
One thing is clear: this isn’t just about a few bad apples or unlucky homeowners. It’s a systemic problem where scammers are always a step ahead, and the people who suffer most are those who can least afford it. The message from the banks couldn’t be more direct: stay vigilant, question everything, and remember—if someone’s demanding big money upfront for a job, it’s probably not your roof that needs fixing, it’s their bank account that’s about to get a boost.
