More than 650 online shoppers reported fraud linked to Argos in May alone – a 323% surge from the previous month, as criminals hijack customer accounts to buy expensive goods and collect them in store.
Report Fraud, the national reporting centre, revealed it received 652 complaints mentioning Argos in May, compared with 154 in April. Since the start of 2026, there have been 1,175 reports involving the retailer, with May's tally the highest monthly total so far.
“Fraudsters hijack Argos accounts using stolen passwords, with 652 complaints in May alone, a 323% increase.”
The scam works by exploiting stolen login credentials obtained from previous data breaches. Fraudsters test the details on popular retail platforms, banking on customers having reused the same passwords across multiple sites. Once inside an account, they place orders – often using click-and-collect services – and retrieve the items before the victim even realises their account has been compromised.
"Password reuse is one of the biggest risks for shoppers," said Marty Bauer, ecommerce expert at Omnisend, who warned the scam exploits the trust built by retailers. "The customer is not necessarily being tricked by a fake website or a suspicious text message. In many cases, criminals are using real login details to access genuine accounts, place real orders and collect the goods before the shopper realises anything has happened."
Report Fraud confirmed that Argos is actively cooperating with authorities and customers to flag suspicious activity and bolster security measures. Detective Chief Inspector Steven Kettle, Head of Crime Services at Report Fraud, urged vigilance: "We urge anyone with online retail accounts to remain vigilant and be alert to any unusual or suspicious activity. It is essential to take appropriate steps to protect your accounts by following Report Fraud's guidance."
He added that anyone who believes they have been a victim should report it via reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
The sharp rise in complaints underscores a growing threat to online shoppers, many of whom rely on identical passwords across several websites, leaving them vulnerable to account takeovers that can go unnoticed until it is too late.