ALMOST two-thirds of Brits have become less trusting about what they see and hear, a shocking new study has found.
And it’s all because of a never ending barrage of suspicious messages and ‘too good to be true’ offers.
As a result, many won’t take photos from influencers, online reviews or even footballer’s injuries at face value.
Others struggle to trust emails, calls and texts from unrecognised contacts.
And the same goes for people on dating apps and even quotes from tradespeople to carry out work.
While a whopping 75-percent of Brits feel it is harder than ever to know what information they should trust.
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Half pinpointed misinformation spread on social media as the cause of their cynicism, while 39 percent blamed it on the fear that those trying to scam them are becoming more sophisticated in their tactics.
It also emerged an eyewatering 86 percent feel it is important to conduct their own research, rather than just taking things at face value.
While all of those polled admitted they had their trust broken as many as four times over the last 12 months.
The study also revealed how on average, Brits only trust six people.
And seven in 10 polled admitted that once their trust has been broken it is ‘almost impossible’ to regain it.
The survey also found nearly one in three will question things they encounter at least a few times a week.
While 15 percent are apprehensive multiple times each day.
The study of 2,000 British adults was carried out by OnePoll for bank Santander.
Chris Ainsley, head of fraud control at the bank, said: “The constant bombardment of scams has really impacted people’s levels of trust.
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“Whether it’s phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be from your bank or investment opportunities that simply seem too good to be true, it’s clear that over time it’s denting our trust in all sorts of things.
“By taking your time and never letting someone pressurise you into acting quickly when it comes to your money, we can help to differentiate who to trust and who to avoid.”
TOP 10 THINGS BRITS WON’T TAKE AT FACE VALUE
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD
1. Always think carefully before making a payment, especially if it’s a lot of money for you. Speak to someone you trust first, like a friend or family member.
2. Pay extra attention to the warnings your bank provides when making a payment. They’re in place to help you bank safely and avoid being scammed.
3. Anyone can be impersonated, and criminals can make the caller ID, email address or name look exactly like the genuine caller. So, if you receive an email, text or call, verify it’s genuine by phoning them back on a known and trusted number.
4. When making a payment, always take the time to complete extra checks to make sure the payee and the payment is genuine. This includes reading reviews, researching companies or websites, and verifying the person or company are who they say they are.
5. Don’t allow anyone to access your computer or devices remotely – criminals can ask you to click on a link or download an app.
6. Remember, your bank, the police or any trusted organisation will never ask you to withdraw, transfer or send back money from your account. If you’re asked to do this, it’s a scam.
