Santander has warned consumers to be wary of online side hustles as experts say “January is a perfect storm” for scams.
The bank said scammers home in on those looking to make some extra cash to cover the costs of Christmas and bridge the gap until January payday.
Data from the bank shows that more than £95,000 was stolen from customers between October and December 2025 by criminals offering money for completing “tasks”, for example by liking or sharing social media influencer videos.
Almost a third, £31,000, of the amounts stolen were from customers “recruited” to like videos on TikTok, with scammers often offering small payments to begin with to hook consumers in.
Customers aged between 20 and 55 are most commonly targeted, and Santander has warned that criminals often use legitimate company names such as Allianz, Starfish and Indeed to gain people’s trust.
Chris Ainsley, Head of Fraud Strategy at Santander UK said: “January payday still feels a long way off for many, as the costs of Christmas start to roll in, others use this time to reevaluate their finances and start saving for the year ahead. Looking for ways to make some extra cash provides scammers with an opportunity to pounce.
"Be wary of any jobs that seem too good to be true, promising returns for simply ‘liking’ social media content. Start the new year alert - even if you’ve earned a couple of pounds from a few clicks before - any requests to pay an up-front fee to take on a job should be treated as a scam.”
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Marty Bauer, Retail and Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend, said January is the most dangerous time for scams.
He added: "January is a perfect storm for scams like these. Our research shows that nearly three in ten people in the UK already have a side hustle, largely to top up their income as living costs rise. After Christmas, when payday feels far away, people are understandably more open to online opportunities, and this is when scammers strike.
"Jobs promising money for simply ‘liking’ or ‘sharing’ content should raise immediate red flags. Genuine income streams are driven by easy access to selling on marketplaces like eBay, Vinted and Depop, not quick-click schemes. Even if your side hustle is just selling your old clothes, it still requires hard work.
"Any role that asks for an upfront payment, pushes conversations onto Telegram, or hides behind the name of a well-known brand without verifiable contact details should be treated with extreme caution. Side hustlers typically earn modest amounts at first, often under £500 a month, rather than the instant, guaranteed returns promised by scammers."
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