SANTANDER has shared a Father’s Day scam warning ahead of Sunday after research showed men have had £22million stolen from them so far in 2026 with one expert saying: “Be wary of ‘Hi Dad’ messages.”
New data from Santander has revealed the devastating cost of fraud on male customers, who have been scammed 50% more than women who had £14 million stolen from them.
Santander found that men handed over the equivalent of £100,000 to scammers every day during the first six months of the year, with the biggest hitters by value being investment and purchase scams.
The bank’s data shows an alarming £14 million stolen from male account holders through investment scams over the last six months, more than double the amount reported by female customers in the same period (£6 million).
The second biggest hitter was purchase scams, with men reporting over £4 million worth of scams after attempting to buy something that did not then exist or was fundamentally different to how it was advertised.
The source of these scams were: Facebook (23% of cases), WhatsApp (9%), TikTok (5%), and Instagram (4%), with other customers reporting the scam begin on Autotrader, Gumtree, VivaStreet, Checkatrade and Amazon.
Men have also reported over £1 million stolen through impersonation scams: one in 10 of which were “Hi Dad” impersonation scams, where fraudsters targeted potential victims via WhatsApp, text or an AI-generated phone call, pretending to be their child requesting money or to make a payment.
Men should be wary of ‘Hi Dad’ messages
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, said dads need to be careful.
He added: “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Women tend to be more cautious and seek reassurance before acting
Gosia Dawson, Director at London-based Glade Financial, said men are more at risk of being scammed.
She added: “Risk-taking can be a valuable trait when building wealth, but it can also be exactly what scammers are counting on. Men are often more comfortable making quick financial decisions and taking investment risks. That can be beneficial when investing, but fraudsters know how to exploit confidence, urgency and the fear of missing out.
“Women tend to be more cautious and seek reassurance before acting, which may partly explain why they report lower scam losses. The answer is not to avoid investing. It is to slow down when money is involved. Any genuine investment will still be there tomorrow.
“If someone is pushing you to act immediately, that should be treated as a warning sign rather than an opportunity. Scammers are no longer targeting the financially inexperienced. Many victims are successful professionals who were simply caught at the wrong moment.”
Rob Mansfield, Independent Financial Advisor at Tonbridge-based Rootes Wealth Management, said “there are no shortcuts in finance”.
He added: “There’s a lethal combination where there’s so many opportunities for a scammer to find you, combined with most of us suffering from a lack of time. It only takes a split second to fall for a spoof website or login page and your details or money can be lost.
“The authorities are forever playing whack a mole trying to stop these but the best defence is not rushing and being a bit cautious on it. There are no short cuts in finance and if someone has a genuine advantage they’d use it themselves rather than sell it on so if it sounds too good to be true, leave it well alone.”
Santander’s research is worrying, but sadly not surprising
Nouran Moustafa, Practice Principal & IFA at Roxton Wealth, advised people to “pause before you pay”.
He added: “Santander’s research is worrying, but sadly not surprising. Scam victims are not stupid. They are often ordinary people being targeted at the exact moment they are busy, hopeful, stressed or trying to make a sensible financial decision. Investment scams are particularly dangerous because they are dressed up to look intelligent.
“Crypto, property and ‘exclusive opportunities’ can sound sophisticated, but the promise of fast, easy returns should always trigger alarm bells. Real wealth planning should never rely on pressure, secrecy or urgency. Ahead of Father’s Day, men should be especially careful with messages claiming to be from children asking for money.
“Stop, call the person directly on a number you already know, and never rush a payment because a message feels emotional. My rule is simple: pause before you pay. Check the firm, check the adviser, check the account details and speak to someone independent. Scammers win when people act quickly. Consumers protect themselves by slowing down.”
