Retail Account Fraud Continues to Rise as Bridlington Shoppers Urged to Stay Vigilant

Thursday 1st October 2026

By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor

Bridlington residents are being urged to check their online shopping accounts following a continued rise in criminals gaining unauthorised access to customer profiles to buy high‑value goods.

Report Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting service, says account‑takeover scams remain one of the fastest‑growing fraud types in 2026, with criminals using stolen login details from previous data breaches to break into retail accounts. Many victims had reused the same password across multiple websites, making it easier for offenders to gain access.

Once inside an account, criminals place online orders and collect them in‑store using click‑and‑collect services. Some purchases have even been paid for using payment cards not linked to the victim, allowing offenders to retrieve goods before the fraud is detected.

National fraud data shows the scale of the problem continues to grow. In the first half of 2026:

• 39,878 account‑takeover cases were recorded — a 5% rise.

• 129,490 identity fraud cases were logged — a 9% increase.

• 220,041 total fraud cases were filed to the National Fraud Database — the highest ever for January–June.

Cyber‑protect officers say towns like Bridlington, where click‑and‑collect is widely used, may be particularly vulnerable to this type of crime.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Kettle, Head of Crime Services at Report Fraud, said:

“We urge anyone with online retail accounts to remain vigilant and be alert to any unusual or suspicious activity. It is essential to take appropriate steps to protect your accounts.”

Residents are advised to act quickly if they spot unexpected orders, password changes, or collection notifications.

🔐 How Bridlington Shoppers Can Protect Themselves

• Reset passwords immediately if you notice anything unusual.

• Use three random words to create a strong passphrase, or switch to passkeys where available.

• Enable 2‑Step Verification (2SV) on all retail accounts.

• Avoid saving card details on shopping accounts unless necessary.

• Report fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.