Policy paper

Fraud Strategy

This strategy sets out a plan to reduce fraud by 10% on 2019 levels by December 2024.

Documents

Fraud Strategy: stopping scams and protecting the public (accessible)

Fraud Strategy: stopping scams and protecting the public

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Fraud Strategy: stopping scams and protecting the public (Welsh)

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Details

This strategy sets out a plan to stop fraud at source and pursue those responsible wherever they are in the world, reducing fraud by 10% on 2019 levels by December 2024.

Predatory criminals take money out of the pockets of hard working people, businesses, and organisations, callously targeting the most vulnerable, online and in their own homes. The volume and severity of fraud also undermines public confidence in the rule of law and threatens our national and economic security.

To deliver a 10% cut in fraud on 2019 levels by December 2024, the government will:

  • establish a new national fraud squad with over 400 new posts and make fraud a priority for the police

  • deploy the UK intelligence community and lead a new global partnership to relentlessly pursue fraudsters wherever they are in the world

  • put more fraudsters behind bars through better investigation and prosecution processes for fraud and digital offences

  • ban SIM farms which are used by criminals to send thousands of scam texts at once

  • stop fraudsters from being able to send mass text messages by requiring mass texting services to be registered, subject to a rapid review

  • Replace Action Fraud with a state-of-the-art system for victims to report fraud and cyber crimes to the police

  • ban cold calls on financial products so fraudsters cannot dupe people into buying fake investments

  • stop people from hiding behind fake companies and create new powers to take down fraudulent websites

  • work with industry to make sure that intelligence is shared quickly with each other and law enforcement

  • change the law so that more victims of fraud will get their money back

  • overhaul and streamline fraud communications so that people know how to protect themselves from fraud and how to report it

  • make the tech sector put in place extra protections for their customers and introduce tough penalties for those who do not

  • shine a light on which platforms are the safest, making sure that companies are properly incentivised to combat fraud

The Fraud Strategy will benefit residents and businesses located across the UK and make a material impact on the incidence of fraud in all four nations.

If you have been subject to a fraud or attempted fraud:

  • report it online at Action Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040
  • in Scotland, report it to Police Scotland by calling 101
  • contact your bank immediately if you have sent money or had money stolen

If you see something suspicious:

  • for emails, forward to report@phishing.gov.uk
  • for texts, forward to 7726, free of charge
  • for calls, text CALL followed by the suspicious number to 7726
  • for websites, report your concern to the NCSC

More information on where to report frauds or suspected frauds is available.

Published 3 May 2023
Last updated 1 June 2023 + show all updates
  1. Added the Welsh version of the Fraud Strategy.

  2. Updated Fraud Strategy target dates.

  3. Accessible version added.

  4. First published.