• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Martin Lewis issues warning to all Brits over scam that’s ‘ruining people’s lives’

Home> News> UK News

Updated 11:05 31 Oct 2023 GMTPublished 11:03 31 Oct 2023 GMT

Martin Lewis issues warning to all Brits over scam that’s ‘ruining people’s lives’

The Money Saving Expert is back with another top tip

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Martin Lewis has issued another urgent warning that could save people thousands.

The Money Saving expert is always at hand to offer the masses his expertise and guidance, and today is no different.

From bills and phone contracts to holiday deals and petrol prices, Sir Martin is the go-to for financial info.

And he's now warning us all to be on guard for scam ads doing the rounds online.

Advert

Martin Lewis is warning people about scam ads that could cost you thousands.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Fake offers are nothing new, though they've become more prevalent in the digital age, but Martin says they're getting much more sophisticated and could cost you a lot.

Taking to X, he told his followers: "Scam ads are a scourge on society. The resulting frauds can destroy peoples financial lives, self esteem and mental health.

"I have the dubious compliment of being the most scammed face in the UK."

Martin and his team have been campaigning for new legislation to combat these scams, which, according to Ofcom, have affected nine out of 10 Brits.

Advert

Suckered in by the seemingly legit ad, people quickly fall int a trap, and before they know it, they've handed over all their savings.

The good news is, says Martin, the Online Safety Bill has become law, offering protection for people from these scams, with sites required to remove them.

Scam ads could cost people their entire life savings.
Getty Images

"For years MSE and I have campaigned to get stronger laws to force social media firms, including here on X (though in my experience Facebook is even worse) to clamp down on these adverts they're PAID to publish," Martin said.

"Originally the government wasn't going to put this in its Online Safety Bill, we fought hard, got it in, and finally last week that bill (which has many other elements, some controversial) was made law."

Advert

"I hope this will start to reduce the number of scams."

The financial whizz isn't under any illusions that this is the silver bullet, though, but says it's a 'good step in the right direction'.

But if that wasn't enough, Martin recently shared a top tip that could save people thousands.

Just in the last tax year, over one million people overpaid a specific loan and he revealed how to check if you can be reimbursed.

The loan in question is the government student loan, which students don’t have to pay back if they earn under a specific threshold - with most who paying back from their wages via direct debit every month.

Advert

Student loan: the gift that keeps on giving.
Getty Images

However, that isn't all that is said and done.

A Freedom of Information request sent off by the MoneySavingExpert.com revealed that 100,000 people have unclaimed money waiting for them from their student loan.

The good news, however, is there is a relatively easy way to check and find out if you’re owed money.

According to MoneySavingExpert.com, you should first go to the government website and sign into your student loan account.

Advert

If you have money left to pay, it will show up on your account but it will also tell you if you’re owed any too.

If the case is that you are owed money back, give your student loans provider a call and they will be able to help you out.

It is also recommended to have your old payslips, payroll number and PAYE reference number at hand for a smoother process.

Featured Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images/Getty Stock Images

Topics: UK News, Money, Martin Lewis, Twitter

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Truth behind mysterious ‘TCC’ logo that’s all over TikTok right now
  • Martin Lewis issues desperate warning to Brits booking holiday this summer
  • Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to any Brits who still have a student loan
  • Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to thousands of Brits missing out on £3,500 pension credit

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Body language expert explains why King Charles was 'clearly uneasy' after what Trump did during state visit

    Trump was breaking royal protocol once again

    News
  • Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images
    7 hours ago

    Major new discovery in case of decomposing body found in boot of singer's impounded Tesla

    The Tesla was registered to singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke

    News
  • Handout/Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Disturbing behaviours Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian B displayed before arrest

    Christian Brueckner's claimed McCann was 'dead' among other odd behaviours in the ITV documentary

    News
  • Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
    10 hours ago

    Royal protocol explained as Donald Trump breaks major etiquette in first moments of meeting with King Charles

    The US president is currently in Britain on a second state visit, with plans to meet Sir Keir Starmer tomorrow

    News