UK fraud crackdown reveals victims lose over £25,000 on average

The National Crime Agency has launched a warning campaign after investment fraud reports jumped 37% year on year, according to figures from Report Fraud. Complaints rose from 26,616 in the previous period to 36,464, and total losses reached £991 million, roughly £100,000 per hour. Common scams involve fake share sales, cryptocurrency offers and recovery fraud, where perpetrators contact earlier victims promising to retrieve stolen money.

NCA deputy director Nick Sharp said average losses top £25,000, eroding trust in legitimate investments. FCA executive Steve Smart added that the regulator issued 2,329 warnings last year and uncovered illegal adverts reaching at least 2.3 million UK social-media accounts, calling for platforms to act more proactively. Victims are advised to contact their bank and police immediately and retain any communications for investigations.