UK fraud and scams reach £1.3 billion in annual losses

Consumer expert Jane Hawkes has issued a warning to the British public regarding the rising prevalence of fraud and scams. Criminals stole nearly £1.3 billion through payment fraud and scams in the UK last year, with fraud accounting for approximately 41% of all crime against individuals in England and Wales.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales reported roughly 4.2 million fraud incidents for the year ending March 2025, representing a 31% increase from the previous year. Victims were tricked into sending £576.4 million directly to criminals, a 19% rise.

Experts note that the advancement of artificial intelligence is making it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish between legitimate customer service teams and scammers. Scammers are reportedly monitoring public complaints on social media to identify potential targets. According to Citizens Advice, online shopping traps remain the most common personal scam, with two-thirds of authorised scams originating online via social media platforms and digital advertisements.