Anyone who shops online at Argos and other UK retailers must stay alert and follow some simple new rules. That’s the advice from City of London Police and the team at Report Fraud, who say there has been a growing trend in UK consumers being scammed. So, what’s happening and how can you stay safe from future issues? It appears that online crooks are using login details obtained through recent data breaches to access accounts and place unauthorised online orders.

If that wasn’t bad enough, it seems these fraudulent orders are frequently fulfilled through ‘click and collect’, allowing offenders to retrieve goods in person using someone else’s account.

This type of scam is clearly proving popular with Report Fraud saying it received a total of 652 reports in May 2026 which mentioned Argos – that’s a whopping 323 per cent increase compared to April.

Argos has now been contacting those customers who may have been affected. The store also continues to work closely with partners and shoppers to help protect accounts and prevent further incidents.

“Report Fraud urges anyone with online retail accounts to remain vigilant and be alert to any unusual or suspicious activity,” said Detective Chief Inspector Steven Kettle, Head of Crime Services at Report Fraud.

“It is essential to take appropriate steps to protect your accounts by following Report Fraud’s guidance. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it to Report Fraud via reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.”

If you are concerned by this news, you can keep yourself protected by following 3 simple new rules.

Report Fraud says customers should reset passwords if any unauthorised activity has been spotted on accounts. You should also do this for any accounts that use the same password. A good way to make sure your passwords are secure and strong is to combine 3 random words to create a unique password. You should opt for a passkey if you can.

Another top tip is to enable 2SV. “Whenever available, protect your online accounts by enabling 2-step verification (2SV),” Report Fraud explained.

Finally, if you decide to create an account for a store you’re buying from, don’t allow them to store your bank details for future purchases.

If you have been a victim of fraud, you should tell Report Fraud by reporting it on the website at reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. Or if you live in Scotland, call 101.

In response to the report, Argos says it disputes the finding that it’s customers are being targeted specifically.

An Argos spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “We dispute the basis and framing of the Report Fraud release, which wrongly suggests this is an Argos-specific issue. This was not a breach of Argos systems and there is no indication that customers’ card details have been compromised or that they have been financially impacted.

“Keeping our customers’ information safe and secure is our highest priority. As a precaution, we have contacted affected customers to support them in resetting their passwords and reassure them of the measures we have in place to protect their accounts.”