With Father’s Day just round the corner on Sunday 21 June, many of us are frantically hunting for the perfect way to show our dads, grandads, or father figures some appreciation. Whether it’s a luxury hamper, tickets to a football match, or just a classic tech gadget, the rush to buy can sometimes cloud our judgment.
Unfortunately, scammers know exactly how to exploit our generosity. Cyber criminals love a calendar milestone, and Father’s Day is prime time for phishing emails, fake social media ads, and delivery scams.
To help you protect your wallet while treating your dad, here is a breakdown of the most common Father's Day scams doing the rounds in the UK right now, and exactly how to avoid them.
1. The "Too Good to Be True" Social Media Ads
You’re scrolling through Facebook or Instagram and see an advert for a top-tier branded watch, a luxury leather wallet, or a premium whiskey set at 70% off. The ad claims it’s a "Father’s Day Flash Sale" and includes a countdown timer to pressure you into buying.
The Trap: Clicking the link takes you to a beautifully designed website that looks completely legitimate. In reality, it’s a spoofed site. Best case scenario? You receive a cheap, dangerous counterfeit product weeks later. Worst case? They pocket your cash, steal your card details, and never send a thing.
How to Avoid It: Always buy directly from trusted high-street brands or verified online retailers. If you haven’t heard of the website before, check their reviews on independent sites like Trustpilot. Remember the golden rule: if a deal looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
2. The Fake "Missed Delivery" Text (Smishing)
Once you’ve ordered a gift, you will likely be waiting on a parcel delivery from Evri, DPD, Royal Mail, or Amazon. Scammers use automated bots to send out thousands of blanket text messages pretending to be these couriers.
The Trap: You get a text saying your package cannot be delivered due to an "incomplete address" or an "outstanding shipping fee" of £1.50. Out of panic that Dad's gift won’t arrive on time, you click the link and enter your banking details to pay the tiny fee.
How to Avoid It: Real delivery firms will never text you out of the blue asking for money or personal details via a random link. Track your parcels directly inside the official app of the retailer you bought from, or type the courier's official web address manually into your browser.
3. WhatsApp "Hi Mum/Hi Dad" Scams
This is an incredibly cruel psychological trick that targets parents directly, rather than the gift-buyers.
The Trap: A father receives a WhatsApp message from an unknown number starting with something like: "Hi Dad, I've dropped my phone down the loo so I'm using a temporary number. I'm in a bit of a panic because I have an urgent bill to pay today and my banking app is locked on this phone. Can you transfer £800 to this account for me?"
How to Avoid It: If you are a dad who receives a message like this, stop and challenge it. Never send money to a "new number" without calling your child on their original number first to verify it’s actually them. If they don't answer, ask the person on WhatsApp a specific question only your child would know the answer to.
Your 4-Step "Stop Fraud" Checklist
Before you click "Buy" or tap a link this month, run through this quick security checklist:
What to do if you've been targeted:
If you think you've accidentally given your details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card.
You should also report any fraud or cyber crime to Report Fraud (the UK's national reporting centre) via their website or by calling
0300 123 2040.Suspicious texts can be forwarded to 7726for free, and phishing emails can be sent toreport@phishing.gov.uk.
Let's keep Father's Day about celebrating our dads—not funding cyber criminals. Happy shopping, and stay safe online!
