Younger people are lonelier than older people because most of their friends are made online, research has found. According to the survey, 89 per cent of them said they had suffered from loneliness, compared to 70 per cent of over-55s.

Building society Nationwide, who carried out the research, said that 36 per cent of those who said they felt lonely have been a victim of fraud. "Those who do feel socially isolated are more willing to respond to someone they don’t know on social media or via email, actively be on dating sites and strike up conversations with strangers."