British email users are currently inundated with a continuous stream of fraudulent emails. Recent data from Action Fraud reveals that an astonishing 43 million suspicious emails were reported between January and May 2025, highlighting the need for caution when checking email inboxes.
Action Fraud has issued crucial advice on combating these scams effectively. Instead of simply discarding suspicious emails, the recommended course of action is to report them to prevent cybercriminals from targeting others in the future.
According to Action Fraud, as of May 2025, over 42 million suspicious emails have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service, leading to the removal of 400,000 scam websites by the National Cyber Security Centre.
Reporting suspicious emails to the service is straightforward. Users can forward any questionable emails to report@phishing.gov.uk for investigation.
The National Cyber Security Center warns that scam emails often aim to lure recipients into clicking malicious links that could result in computer viruses or the theft of personal information, a tactic commonly referred to as ‘phishing.’
The NCSC has the authority to investigate and eliminate scam email sources and websites. Reporting phishing attempts is free and quick, helping to reduce the volume of scam emails received, fortify personal defenses against scammers, and safeguard others from online cybercrime.
Given the prevalence of malicious emails, it is crucial to exercise caution and refrain from clicking on suspicious links or messages. Companies like Netflix and Spotify are frequently targeted, with emails falsely claiming subscription cancellations.
Amazon recently alerted its customers to a scam involving fake emails regarding Amazon Prime membership subscriptions, urging users to verify their memberships through the official Amazon channels rather than clicking on dubious links.
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