Tech YouTuber 'The Tech Chap' Loses £70,000 in Sophisticated Phishing Scam

Tom Honeyands, a tech reviewer known as 'The Tech Chap' with 1.63 million YouTube subscribers, lost £70,000 after falling victim to a phishing scam while on a work trip in Tokyo.

How the Scam Unfolded

The Initial Call

Honeyands received a call from someone claiming to be from Lloyds bank. The caller asked about a transaction in Singapore and, after Honeyands denied it, said his account was compromised and needed security reset.

Exploitation of Personal Data

"They knew my name, address, who I banked with, that I was travelling."

Honeyands believes the scammers compiled personal details from his social media and videos—including the Lloyds icon visible on his computer home screen and his travel status.

The Attack Method

The scam occurred late at night when Honeyands was tired and jet-lagged. The scammers requested verification codes supposedly to cancel fraudulent payments, but the codes actually authorized new payees. Over several hours, Honeyands made 12 verifications, enabling transfers totaling £70,000.

Discovery

Lloyds' real security team eventually called Honeyands, leading him to question the authenticity of both calls. The real Lloyds advised him to hang up and call back using the number on his bank card.

Honeyands' Warning

Following the incident, the YouTuber issued a stark warning about the risks of oversharing online:

"I feel like I am a fairly intelligent guy. I should know better."

Key Advice for Users:

• Be cautious about sharing details online, such as banking icons visible in screenshots or travel plans on social media
• If a call seems suspicious, hang up and call your bank back using the number on your card
• Verify any unexpected verification code requests—these codes can authorize payments, not cancel them

Lloyds bank also advises customers to call back on a trusted number if a call seems suspicious.