Scammers are exploiting British politeness, with more than half of adults admitting they remain on unwanted phone calls longer than they would like, according to an anti-fraud warning.
A survey found that 53 per cent of people stayed on unwarranted calls rather than ending the conversation, raising concerns that fraudsters are being given more time to build trust and pressure potential victims.
Fraud experts said callers should not feel obliged to continue speaking to anyone who contacts them unexpectedly, particularly if the conversation involves personal information, bank details or an urgent request for payment.
Suspicious callers may pose as representatives of banks, government departments or other trusted organisations. Their aim is often to keep people engaged while creating a sense of fear or urgency.
People who are unsure about a call should hang up and contact the organisation using a trusted number, such as one printed on a bank card or an official statement. They should not rely on contact details provided by the caller.
The warning comes amid continuing efforts to encourage the public to report suspected scams and to treat ending an unsolicited call as a sensible precaution rather than an act of rudeness.
