Delivery and redelivery texts
Fake parcel messages may ask you to pay a small fee, rearrange delivery or confirm card details through a link.
Check delivery text guidanceMonthly Scam Watch
Monthly Scam Watch: May 2026
A calm UK scam-awareness update for households, families and small organisations. This month, the safest theme is simple: pause before clicking, paying, sharing codes or trusting a sudden request.
UK-focused guidance Plain English No scare tactics Official reporting routes
Quick answer
In May 2026, be especially careful with unexpected delivery messages, bank or payment calls, recovery offers, and slow-building relationship or investment approaches. Scams often work by creating urgency, trust or pressure before asking for money, codes, documents or account access.
- Do not click links from unexpected texts or emails.
- Do not share one-time codes, passwords or banking details.
- Check banks, delivery firms and account providers through official apps or websites.
- Forward scam texts to 7726 and suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- If money has left your account, contact your bank using a trusted route.
Scams to watch this month
These are not the only scams around. They are useful examples of the pressure tactics people should slow down and check.
Bank impersonation calls
Scammers may claim there is fraud on your account and pressure you to move money, share codes or confirm details.
Read bank call guidanceSlow-building trust scams
Romance and investment scams can build over time. The warning sign may be how the situation develops, not just one message.
Read romance scam guidanceRed flags to check before acting
One warning sign is enough to pause. Several together are a strong reason to stop and check independently.
Urgency
You are told to act immediately, pay now, confirm details quickly or avoid a penalty.
Secrecy
You are asked not to tell family, friends, your bank or anyone who might help you check.
Unusual payment methods
Be careful with bank transfers, crypto, gift cards, courier payments or small fees from unexpected links.
Requests for codes or access
Do not share one-time codes, passwords, screen-sharing access or remote access to your device.
What to do before you click, pay or reply
Use this simple check when something feels urgent, official or emotionally pressured.
1
Pause the conversation
Do not click, pay, reply or share details while you feel rushed. Scams are designed to reduce thinking time.
2
Use a trusted route
Open the official app or website yourself. Do not use links, phone numbers or contact details from the suspicious message.
3
Ask what has changed
For slow-building scams, think about the pattern. Has the person moved from friendly contact to secrecy, urgency, money, documents or account access?
4
Report and protect
Forward suspicious texts to 7726. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. If money was lost or an account was affected, report through the UK fraud reporting route and contact your bank or provider.
Important: Cleverways provides practical educational guidance, not legal, financial or official reporting advice. For urgent financial concerns, contact your bank using a trusted route. If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Useful guides to keep nearby
These Cleverways guides give more detailed steps for common scam situations.
Clicked a scam link?
What to do if you opened a suspicious link, entered details or downloaded something.
Get the stepsSent money?
How to contact your bank, keep evidence and watch for recovery scams.
What to do nowAccount may be hacked?
Recover access, change passwords and secure email, social or shopping accounts.
Secure the accountKeep the 10-second scam check nearby
The safest step is often a pause. Download the free Cleverways guide and keep a simple check nearby for suspicious texts, calls, emails and payment requests.
Last reviewed: May 2026. This Monthly Scam Watch is based on Cleverways source discovery and practical UK scam-awareness themes.