Santander has issued a Father's Day scam warning ahead of Sunday after new data revealed that men have had £22 million stolen from them so far in 2026. The bank's research shows that male customers have been scammed 50% more than women, who lost £14 million during the same period.
Daily Losses of £100,000
Santander found that men handed over the equivalent of £100,000 to scammers every day during the first six months of the year. The biggest financial losses came from investment and purchase scams.
Investment scams alone accounted for £14 million stolen from male account holders, more than double the £6 million reported by female customers. Purchase scams were the second most common, with men losing over £4 million after attempting to buy items that either did not exist or were fundamentally different from their advertisements.
Platforms Used by Scammers
The scams originated from various platforms, including Facebook (23% of cases), WhatsApp (9%), TikTok (5%), and Instagram (4%). Other reported sources included Autotrader, Gumtree, VivaStreet, Checkatrade, and Amazon.
Men also reported over £1 million stolen through impersonation scams. One in ten of these were 'Hi Dad' impersonation scams, where fraudsters targeted potential victims via WhatsApp, text, or AI-generated phone calls, pretending to be their child requesting money or a payment.
Expert Advice
Chris Ainsley, Head of Fraud Risk Management at Santander UK, said: 'As a parent myself, I know how busy life gets – juggling kids, work and a social life – and fraudsters often target people when they know they might not have time to properly consider what they’re being asked to do. Whether it’s an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, or a text or phone call out of the blue from your child asking for money, we are urging people to stay alert and stay safe ahead of this Father’s Day.'
Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, commented: 'Santander’s figures show just how quickly scams can move from a nuisance to a life-changing financial threat. Fraudsters are very good at identifying the right moment to strike, particularly when people are busy, distracted or emotionally exposed, and Father’s Day gives them another hook to make a message feel personal, urgent and believable.'
Briedis added: 'Men being hit particularly hard by investment scams is not surprising. Criminals know how to package fake crypto, property or trading opportunities as something smart, time-sensitive and exclusive. The pressure to act quickly is often the biggest warning sign. No legitimate investment needs you to move money in a panic, ignore your bank’s warnings or keep the opportunity secret.'
He also warned about purchase scams: 'Purchase scams are another major concern because they often begin on platforms people use every day. A listing on Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok or Instagram can look convincing, but that does not make it safe. Scammers rely on trust borrowed from familiar apps and will often try to move the conversation away from the platform, push bank transfer payments, or offer a deal that is just good enough to make someone take a risk.'
Briedis concluded: 'Ahead of Father’s Day, men should be wary of ‘Hi Dad’ messages and unexpected calls from an unknown number, claiming to be from their child, or any request for urgent financial help.'
