New research from Aston University warns that fraud in the hospitality sector is rising ahead of summer holidays

Fraud expert reveals top tips to help travellers stay safe from fraud risks

Individual travellers are being increasingly targeted with around one in ten falling victim

As millions of people plan their Easter getaways and summer holidays, Dr Rasha Kassem, a fraud expert at Aston University, is warning of increasing risks facing both businesses and travellers within the hospitality sector – and shares practical advice on how to stay safe while on holiday.

https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/new-research-warns-rising-fraud-risks-holidaymakers-summer-season-approaches

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Federation of Builders (NFB) have launched a joint campaign aimed at accounts payable professionals and finance personnel in the construction industry that highlights the risks of invoice fraud, a crime that costs businesses millions each year.

Invoice fraud is one of the most common and costly forms of financial crime affecting individuals, families and businesses.

The construction industry is especially vulnerable to invoice fraud because it relies on complex supply chains often involving contractors, sub-contractors, consultants and suppliers, frequent high value payments and reliance on emails to communicate payment instructions which criminals can compromise.

Invoice fraud happens when criminals deceive individuals and businesses into paying fake invoices or diverting a genuine payment into accounts controlled by fraudsters. Fraudsters can impersonate suppliers, intercept emails or send convincing invoices to generate immediate payments into their own accounts. The aim is to manipulate victims into transferring funds to the fraudsters instead of their legitimate destination.

https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/NCA+and+National+Federation+of+Builders+launch+campaign+to+protect+against+invoice+fraud+in+construction+27032026112500

Victims of investment fraud lost an average of £1,675 every minute last year, new figures from the City of London Police have revealed. Criminals stole £879.8 million through investment fraud last year – an average of £2.4 million a day.

In 2025, 34,673 people reported investment fraud to Report Fraud, the national service that replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. This marks a 31 per cent rise on the previous year, with officers warning that fraudsters are taking advantage of economic uncertainty, volatile markets and increasingly convincing online platforms to lure in victims.

https://policeprofessional.com/news/rising-cost-of-investment-fraud-revealed/

More than 550 arrests were made as part of Operation Henhouse, the fifth year of a UK-wide campaign against fraud.

Coordinated by the National Economic Crime Centre at the National Crime Agency (NCA) and City of London Police, this year’s activity ran throughout February an resulted in 557 arrests, £9 million in account freezing orders, £18.1 million in cash and assets seized.

The operation also saw 249 cease and desist notices and 172 voluntary interviews.

Since the operation started five years ago, 1,904 people have been arrested and more than £67 million has been seized or disrupted.

https://policeprofessional.com/news/operation-henhouse-delivers-strongest-results-yet-in-fifth-year-of-national-fraud-crackdown/

Plans for a new cross-agency crackdown on online fraud represent an ambitious attempt to improve the UK’s response to economic crime, according to experts.

The Online Crime Centre will launch in April, uniting specialists from the UK government, police, intelligence agencies, banks, technology platforms and mobile networks in a co-ordinated joint venture aimed, initially, at high volume cyber-crimes and fraud.

https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/uk-launches-new-anti-fraud-strategy

Two new reports underpin the Fraud Strategy 2026-2029

Economic & Social Cost of Fraud 2023–24 estimates a £14.4bn annual impact.

National Assessment Centre Fraud Assessment 2025 highlights the surge in online, cross‑border, AI‑enabled fraud.

Built on three pillars — Disrupt, Safeguard, Respond — the UK is accelerating its fraud‑fighting infrastructure, including:

£31m Online Crime Centre launching April 2026, unifying intelligence, law enforcement and industry to dismantle criminal networks.

Greater action against abuse of telecoms, online platforms and financial systems.

Enhanced resilience for individuals and businesses through targeted guidance and proactive policing.

Stronger victim support and improved investigative and legal powers.

This strategy reflects a long‑overdue reset: a modernised, tech‑driven, partnership‑focused approach to reducing harm and restoring confidence.

https://loupedin.blog/2026/03/disrupt-safeguard-respond-uk-sets-new-fraud-strategy/#page=1

New and expanded fraud strategy sets out how the government will dismantle overseas scam compounds and protect the public from the UK’s most pervasive crime.

Fraudsters will be stopped in their tracks by a new online crime squad, set up to disrupt the gangs behind Britain’s most pervasive crime.

Launching operations in April, the new Online Crime Centre will bring together specialists from the government, police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks and major tech firms to drive co-ordinated action against fraud.

It forms part of a new and expanded fraud strategy published today, which sets out how the government will disrupt fraudsters and protect the public – with £250 million invested over the next 3 years in the fight.

A government crackdown on public sector fraud delivered £7.53 billion in savings for the taxpayer last year. Led by the Public Sector Fraud Authority, an anti-fraud body, it achieved these savings through a focus on prevention, recovery, and enforcement.

By coordinating specialists across government, the initiative aims to identify and dismantle fraud across the public sector, ensuring funds are directed to essential services rather than lost to criminal activity.

https://www.ukauthority.com/articles/data-matching-tools-help-tackle-public-sector-fraud

Graham McNulty has been appointed to lead the Serious Fraud Office as Interim Director.

He will take over from Nick Ephgrave QPM on his retirement at the beginning of April.

Mr McNulty, who joined the SFO as Chief Operating Officer in September 2024, was appointed after a process overseen by the Attorney General’s Office.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/interim-director-appointed-to-lead-the-serious-fraud-office

Romance scammers are posing as savvy investors flaunting fake profits, Nationwide Building Society is warning.

The society said it was seeing criminals moving away from “dramatic emergency pleas” and towards manipulation involving bogus financial opportunities.

It said reported cases of romance scams increased by 5% between 2024 and 2025.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/romance-scammers-shifting-tactics-towards-bogus-investment-schemes/ar-AA1W6Vl8