Online shoppers warned after sharp rise in criminals accessing retailer accounts
Online shoppers are being warned to check their accounts for unusual activity after a sharp rise in criminals using stolen passwords to place fraudulent orders and collect goods from stores.
Report Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting service, says it received 652 reports mentioning Argos in May 2026, a 323 per cent increase on the 154 reports received in April.
Since January 2026, there have been 1,175 reports mentioning the retailer, with May the highest month on record.
The method involves criminals using login details obtained from previous data breaches at other websites to access retailer accounts.
It works because many people reuse the same password across multiple online accounts.
Once inside an account, criminals place orders online and collect the goods in person at a physical store, using click and collect services.
In some cases, the goods are paid for using payment details not linked to the account holder.
Argos is actively working with police and has been contacting customers who may have been affected.
Detective Chief Inspector Steven Kettle, Head of Crime Services at Report Fraud, said: “Report Fraud urges 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. 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.”
Anyone who spots unauthorised activity on a retailer account should change their password immediately, and do the same for any other account using the same password.
Report Fraud recommends combining three random words to create a strong password, and using a passkey where one is available.
Shoppers are also advised to turn on two-step verification on any account that offers it, and to avoid allowing retailers to store bank card details for future purchases.
Fraud can be reported to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
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