Everything that Netflix’s Ripley can teach you about being vigilant for scams

The Talented Mr. Ripley, written by Patricia Highsmith, was first published in 1955. It introduced the world to the charismatic young con man Tom Ripley for the first time, but not for the last.

Most recently, you may have been enjoying Andrew Scott’s portrayal of the fictional fraudster in the Netflix adaptation Ripley. Though a thoroughly enjoyable masterclass in acting and cinematography, the tale of Ripley is chilling, and packed with insight into the world of con artists.

It’s a sad truth that even the most switched-on and vigilant people fall victim to scams. Indeed, Cifas reports that 1 in 10 Brits lost money to scams or identity theft in the past 12 months.

In light of this, here are some valuable lessons Ripley can teach you about protecting yourself from scams.

Things aren’t always as they seem

Highsmith wrote five books following the adventures of Tom Ripley. In each of these tales – and the subsequent screen adaptations – deception is one of the key tools used by the con artist.

Tom uses his charm and intelligence to present himself as a well-to-do young man, seamlessly integrating into wealthy shipbuilding heir Dickie Greenleaf’s luxurious life. He then exploits this trust to start scamming Dickie.

Similarly, scammers often impersonate trusted institutions like your bank to gain your confidence. Sadly, we’ve seen these types of scams become increasingly common – indeed, Lloyds reports that cases of impersonation scams have risen by 13% since 2023.

Criminals may impersonate legitimate companies through texts, phone calls, or emails. If you suspect a message is from a fraudster, simply refrain from responding.

Unfortunately for Dickie, there was no simple way for him to confirm that Ripley was who he said he was. However, you can easily check the legitimacy of messages you receive. To confirm if a communication is genuine, reach out to the company through their official customer support channels rather than responding to any message they send to you.

Keep your personal information safe

As you’ve read, in Ripley Dickie Greenleaf falls for Tom Ripley’s deception and lets his guard down. Dickie allows Tom into his life and gives the con man access to all the information he’ll need to impersonate Dickie and eventually live his high-flying life.

Without full access to Dickie’s personal details, Tom wouldn’t have had the necessary knowledge to successfully masquerade as him.

Scammers will sometimes use personal information to impersonate you or other people. This can be scary, and you could fall prey to this type of con in both your personal and working life.

For instance, the “bogus boss” scam involves using stolen data to impersonate you or another senior team member within your organisation. A fraudster will use a hacked email address to contact your finance department and request an urgent payment to be made outside of the business.

Because the email is from a genuine email address within your company, the member of your finance department who receives the request is more likely to oblige.

Scams like this are only possible when criminals have access to data like your name, address and passwords.

So, don’t be like Dickie: keep your personal information private. Use secure passwords, avoid sharing private information on social media, and always be vigilant online.

Do your due diligence

Dickie Greenleaf is the son of Herbert Greenleaf, a wealthy shipbuilder in 1960s New York. At the outset of Ripley, Dickie has been writing and painting in Europe for years, and seemingly has no intention of returning to the US.

Mistaking Tom Ripley for a friend of Dickie, Herbert Greenleaf tasks Tom with tracking down his errant son and convincing him to return to America.

If Herbert had taken some time to verify Tom Ripley’s credentials, he would have swiftly realised his mistake and saved his son from an untimely fate.

If you’re offered an investment or business opportunity, make sure to conduct thorough research before making a decision. We understand that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction, but taking the time to do your due diligence is an excellent way to protect yourself from investment scams.

Check if the company is regulated by the FCA and read customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot to learn about others’ experiences.

The FCA register lists all regulated firms and individuals, what they’re regulated to do and your protections when dealing with them. You can also verify contact information to confirm you’re dealing with a genuine party.

The FCA also keeps a warning list of unregulated firms – companies and individuals on this list aren’t authorised to operate in the UK.

Get in touch

Having an expert team of financial planners on your side is one of the best ways to safeguard your wealth from scammers. If you’ve been offered an investment opportunity, we can help you to determine if it is genuine and avoid falling victim to a modern-day Ripley.

To find out more email enquiries@clarionwealth.co.uk or call us on 01625 466360.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.