Online fraud has become Britain's most common crime. Action Fraud received 880,000 reports in 2024, representing estimated losses of £2.3 billion. The true figure is significantly higher — most online fraud goes unreported, either because victims are embarrassed or believe nothing will be done.
The Most Common Scams in 2025
Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud — where victims are deceived into transferring money to fraudsters — remains the highest-value fraud type. The typical scenario involves a caller claiming to be from a bank's fraud team, HMRC, or a utility company, creating urgency and convincing the victim to transfer funds.
Investment scams have grown dramatically with the rise of social media advertising. Fake celebrity endorsements, fabricated returns, and professional-looking websites lure victims into transferring savings to fraudulent investment platforms.
Romance fraud causes enormous financial and emotional harm. Fraudsters establish fake relationships over months before manufacturing a financial emergency requiring payment.
How to Protect Yourself
Your bank will never ask you to transfer money to a "safe account." HMRC never calls to threaten immediate arrest. Investment returns of 20%+ are not legitimate.
Pause before acting on any request that creates urgency. Call back using a number from the official website, not one provided in the call or message.
What Banks Are Required to Do
From October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator requires banks to reimburse APP fraud victims up to £415,000 per claim, unless the victim acted with gross negligence. This represents a significant strengthening of consumer protection.
