More than one in four scammed adults felt embarrassed at being caught out – with many keeping their misfortunes quiet as a result.
Others felt angry (61 per cent), upset (37 per cent) and ashamed (20 per cent) after they were defrauded.
The poll of 2,000 people found that of those who have been targeted by scammers, nearly half have had their money stolen over the last year - leaving those who have been duped out of pocket by an average of £481.
Marketplace scams, with fraudulent items put up for sale, and impersonation scams – someone pretending to be someone they’re not – are the most commonly seen schemes.
To raise awareness about scams and ensure people are prepared to protect themselves, international money app Wise has partnered with We Fight Fraud to launch the 'Scam Safe Space', where people can talk openly about their experience of scammers and scams, without judgement.
Dr Nicola Harding said: “And let’s keep social media social - keep to regulated places which have consumer protections.”
