According To Statistics, Scammers Steal £2.2 Million In A Year.

According to a survey,  a variety of scams targeting residents on the Isle of a man cost more than £2.2 Million in 2024. According to data from the cyber security center (CSC), victims lost £45,000 to romance fraud, £391,674 to voice call scams, and £1.2 Million to investment frauds. During that time, 497 cyber issues and over 9,300 suspicious emails were reported through the center's reporting program, a 50% increase over 2023. 

Calling on individuals to voice their concerns, according to CSC director Mike Haywood, is probably "just the tip of the iceberg" because many scams are still going unreported. The most recent annual report detailed instances of bank fraud, phishing, and purchasing scams, including one instance in which a company lost £66,100 after an employee was persuaded to visit a fraudulent banking website. £113,472 was lost as a result of account breaches, which happen when a third party gains unauthorized access to or takes control of an online account.

This was mostly caused by phishing emails that looked like they were from Manx.Net and Manx Telecom. Other instances of abuse included investment fraud, where scammers impersonated celebrities like Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson, and bogus websites that Mimicked services like Isle of Man transport. According to Mr Haywood, " every pound lost to scams is not just a loss for our local economy, it's the hard earned money of individuals in our community," this is quite alarming.

The money was "lining the pockets of criminals operating from all cornersof the World " he claimed, rather than being used for " essential needs, families, or supporting local businesses and creating jobs." According to Mr Haywood, the numbers were " deeply concerning " and  " the real cost to residents could be significantly higher" because so many scams went unreported. " We can only fight against cybercrime if we have a picture of the threats facing our island, " he stated.