Only 37 per cent of married people told their partner about being scammed, with married men less inclined than married women to tell their partners, according to a survey from Marcus by Goldman Sachs.

Less than a quarter (24 per cent) of people told their close friends about being defrauded, 15 per cent told their colleagues, and just 9 per cent informed the organisation the fraudster was posing as.

Almost one in 10 (8 per cent) didn’t tell a soul.

According to the research, victims of financial fraud feel angry, vulnerable, stupid and embarrassed, which could be why so many keep tight-lipped about their experience.

Sarah Card, head of delivery and risk at Marcus by Goldman Sachs in the UK, said: “We encourage people not to feel alone and isolated when it comes to experiencing fraud– unfortunately it’s happened to a lot of people. By talking about it with others we can spread the word and help more people stay safe in the future.”