Santander has issued an urgent warning to its customers after revealing a dramatic surge in sophisticated scams, primarily targeting individuals seeking weight loss solutions.
Alarming Surge in Health Product Scams
Data from the bank shows that fraud involving weight loss injections, pens, tablets, and fat-dissolving products skyrocketed by 143% in the third quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter. In this three-month period alone, from July to September, criminals stole a total of £3,742 through these specific cons.
The average victim lost £120 to these weight loss scams. Furthermore, scams relating to supplements, pills, and medicines more than doubled in value, seeing a 105% increase from £6,339 in the second quarter to £13,030 in the third quarter.
Fraudsters Exploit Personal Insecurities
Michelle Pilsworth, Head of Fraud and Customer Experience at Santander UK, commented on the disturbing trend. She stated that the rise in scams directly mirrors the recent seizure of a record number of fake weight loss jabs in the UK.
“Fraudsters are actively exploiting people’s insecurities and health concerns, with scams involving weight loss products, supplements and medicines soaring in recent months,” she explained.
The findings indicate that both men and women are being targeted, with 45% of victims being male and 55% female. The problem is growing at an alarming rate; the total volume of these health product scams increased by 286% between the first and third quarter of 2025, with the total value of money stolen rising by a staggering 417%.
Protect Yourself: The Bank's Clear Message
Michelle Pilsworth emphasised that these scams are predominantly taking place on social media platforms and messaging apps, where unverified sellers promote deals that seem too good to be true.
“Our message is clear: if a deal looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is, and buying from unverified sellers online can come at a serious financial, health-related and emotional cost,” she warned.
Santander's warning serves as a crucial reminder for the public to exercise extreme caution when purchasing health products online and to only buy from reputable, verified sources.
