Latest Fraudscape report shows cases of identity fraud rose by almost a quarter in 2022

Identity fraud now accounts for almost 70% of cases filed to the National Fraud Database

The latest research from Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, has revealed that identity fraud is now one of the biggest fraud threats to the UK public, with cases soaring by nearly a quarter over the last year.

As the UK continues to grapple with its cost-of-living crisis, scammers are taking advantage of people’s increased financial vulnerability.

In the first half of 2022 alone, criminals stole a total of £609.8 million through scams, according to UK Finance data.

https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/personal-finance/2023/04/25/five-scams-beware-2023/

The Business Department is not expecting to recoup billions of taxpayers’ money lost to fraud and error in pandemic support.

https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2023/apr-2023/pac-slams-government-for-billions-lost-to-fraud

You are more likely to fall victim to fraud than robbery or violence in England and Wales. What’s more, according to the government, 61% of fraud offences in England and Wales are committed online. But how many of these scams target mobile phone users?

https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_deals/mobile-fraud/

As an internet-savvy 23-year-old, Sarah* never expected to become a victim of romance fraud. When she began using a gaming app in the summer of 2020, it was simply a much-needed release from the boredom of the pandemic.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/what-is-romance-fraud

Find out more about our work on reducing money laundering through cash deposits via the Post Office and our current expectations of firms’ controls.

In 2020, the UK National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing highlighted an increase in criminal abuse of cash deposit services such as those offered at the Post Office.

https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/financial-crime/cash-based-money-laundering

This column from Isle of Wight Against Scams Partnership is concerned about push payment fraud.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/beware-criminals-pretend-bank-police-150000707.html/

Sajad Hussain pleaded guilty to fraud in a hearing on Monday. Over a seven year period, he manipulated three women out of more than £200,000. He will be sentenced in June.

https://swindonlink.com/news/romance-fraudster/

An elderly couple who lost their £80,000 life savings to a fraudster pretending to be endorsed by Martin Lewis claim they were told by their account holder Revolut to use a foodbank when they asked for their money back.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/pensioners-who-lost-%C2%A380000-told-to-use-a-foodbank-by-revolut/ar-AA1adwM2

Police are encouraging people to improve their cyber security following a spate of hackings of old email accounts.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/warning-as-old-email-accounts-with-weak-security-hacked-by-cyber-criminals/