Stay safe this autumn
With Barclays Digital Wings
Learn how to stay secure, informed, and in control, explore our tools, tips, and resources designed to help you thrive online.
Why it's important
18%
of consumers have fallen victim to a scam in the last year, while 34% know someone who has.*
52%
of Brits are overwhelmed by the wide variety of tactics employed by scammers.**
75%
of all scam types reported by Barclays customers, originated on social media and tech platforms.*
Stay safe online: Financially motivated sexual extortion (Sextortion)
A growing risk is financially motivated sexual extortion, also known as sextortion. This serious form of online blackmail can affect anyone, and knowing how it works is key to staying protected. Learn more from the National Crime Agency.
Ready to begin?
For individuals & supporters
Empowering safer online habits for you and those around you
This learning empowers individuals to take control of their online safety and support others in doing the same. Explore practical ways to protect personal information, recognise and avoid scams, and use everyday technology safely. Whether you're navigating social media, dating apps, or helping a friend spot suspicious activity, this path builds confidence and awareness for safer online habits.
Supporting young people
Helping young people navigate the online world safely
This learning supports both adults and young people in navigating the online world safely. For parents, guardians, and educators, it offers tools to guide and protect children. For young learners, it provides engaging, age-appropriate resources to help them understand risks and make smart choices online.
Supporting businesses
Embedding safe digital habits in your organisation
Designed for businesses of all sizes, this learning focuses on embedding a culture of online safety across the workplace. It covers essential practices for protecting company data, devices, and people from cyber threats. Whether you're a business owner or an employee, you'll learn how to spot risks, respond to incidents, and build a resilient digital environment.
Explore our additional staying safe online resources
To support our mission of helping users stay safe online and build fraud awareness, Digital Wings offers a rich suite of resources beyond our core learning modules.
Ransomware: A growing danger to organisations
Ransomware is a serious problem for all types of organisations, big or small. Dive into our quick read to learn more.
Why streaming services are the new battleground in the war against scammers
Scammers are exploiting the rise in streaming service price changes, known as “streamflation”, by mimicking provider messages to trick users into sharing personal details. Barclays’ latest insights reveal how fake emails and spoofed sites are increasingly targeting consumers during busy retail periods like Black Friday.
As online dating turns 30, romance scams are more widespread than ever before
Sadly, as online dating sites have grown in popularity, so to have opportunistic fraudsters looking to exploit those looking for love. New data from Barclays shows that romance scams were up 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the number reported in the first quarter of 2024. And, sadly, the majority of these scams originated on social media sites and online dating platforms.
As the UK declutters ahead of spring, consumers are turning to online marketplaces. Sadly, so are scammers…
Speaking about this, Kirsty Adams, Fraud and Scams Expert at Barclays, said: “Online marketplaces are a great way to re-home unwanted items or to find sought-after goods at a discount, but they require a level of trust between buyer and seller that scammers are sadly exploiting. We urge people to take their time when making purchases and to remember the timeless mantra – ‘if it looks too good to be true, it probably is’. No bargain is worth the risk of being scammed.”
Protect yourself from investment scams and learn how to spot advanced fee fraud
Advanced fee and investment scams are on the rise, and fraudsters are getting smarter. In this blog, you'll discover how these scams operate, the red flags to watch for, and expert tips on how to protect your finances. Don't become a victim - arm yourself with the knowledge you need to stay safe and secure in today's digital world.
Fraud and scams: What lessons did we learn in 2024?
And why we need to come together to stop scammers in their tracks.
Fraud and Scams Expert at Barclays, Kirsty Adams is at the forefront of the battle against online criminals. Along with her team of experts, she works on the frontline to help keep the public safe from scammers.
Explore our past staying safe online sessions
With practical tips, real life examples, and expert insight to help you stay safe and secure.
Keeping children safe online
Filmed live in June 2025.
As children spend more time online, protecting them from risks such as cyberbullying, scams, and inappropriate content is more important than ever. In this webinar, we explored the current tactics being used to target young people and provided practical guidance to help you stay informed. We also signposted trusted tools and resources, empowering you to support the children in your life and help them in navigating the digital world safely and confidently.
Investment scams: Be savvy, not sorry
Filmed live in March 2025.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this event shone a spotlight on the latest tactics used by scammers, we shared insights on how to recognise red flags, and will help enhance your knowledge on the steps you can take to make secure and informed decisions, that will protect your finances, both now and into the future.
Scams: How to safely navigate the digital world
Filmed live in November 2024.
We shared examples of the tactics used by cyber criminals and how you could keep yourself safe while shopping online. We touched on topics such as social engineering and purchase scams, including how to shop safely online and much more. We also shared tips on what to do if you were targeted by a scammer, which included sharing resources to help you continue building confidence that could help beat the cyber criminals.
Staying safe online: How to beat the cyber criminals
Filmed live in June 2024.
We shared some examples of the tactics used by cyber criminals to target us and how you could keep yourself and your personal information safe. We covered topics such as malware, remote access, social engineering, and public Wi-Fi. We also shared tips on how to protect you and your family by expanding your knowledge on these topics and provided resources to help you continue building confidence that could help us beat the cyber criminals.
If you suspect fraud or have been scammed, Barclays provides clear guidance on how to report it
'The Little Book of Big Scams' created by the Metropolitan Police, offers practical advice on how to spot and avoid common scams
'The Little Book of Big Scams' (8.8mb - pdf)
*2024 data - Barclays UK unlocked insight.
**2024 data - Barclays scams unwrapped.
