A fresh cybercrime alert has been issued for UK residents—especially those using Gmail, Yahoo, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. New research from Equifax reveals
that cybercriminals stole a staggering £5.9 million from Brits in 2024 alone.
The most common entry points for these attacks? Email and social media accounts. Over 36,000 incidents were reported via these platforms last year, prompting a warning for all users to remain extra cautious.
Cybercrime Hotspots in the UK
Equifax's findings, based on National Fraud Intelligence Bureau data, also show that cybercrime risk varies by region:
- East of England had the highest rate: 14.9 incidents per 1,000 people, with losses totalling £722,400
- South Wales followed with 11.8 incidents per 1,000, costing £16,200
London recorded 10.3 incidents per 1,000 people, leading to £849,100 in losses
“Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated”
Phillip Davies, Chief Information Security Officer at Equifax Europe, warned:
“The growing sophistication of cyberattacks poses a serious threat to the economy, personal privacy, and national security. We urge everyone to prioritise cybersecurity.”
5 crucial steps to stay safe
To help protect users from falling victim, Equifax shared five essential safety tips:
- Secure your devices with passwords, fingerprint scans, or facial recognition.
- Avoid clicking on links unless you’re 100% sure who sent them.
- Use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all apps and accounts.
- Download apps only from official stores (like the App Store or Google Play)—never third-party sites.
Equifax also recommends making your social media profiles private and setting up log-in alerts to monitor unusual activity. Avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing sensitive accounts, and always stay alert. Photo by Stock Catalog, Wikimedia commons.