Half Year Fraud Report 2025

Key Take Aways

1. The first half of 2025 saw a 17% increase in confirmed fraud cases to 2.09 million, with total losses reaching £629 million, highlighting ongoing escalation in fraud activity.
2. Fraud prevention is yielding significant results, with a 21% increase in prevented card fraud, totalling £682 million, underscoring the importance of industry investment.
3. Remote purchase (card-not-present) fraud remains a principal driver, with cases rising 22% and losses increasing 8%, primarily due to sophisticated social engineering and OTP compromise.
4. Card fraud accounted for more than half (58%) of all unauthorised fraud losses, amounting to £298.9 million, with remote purchase fraud being the dominant category.
5. The upward trajectory in unauthorised card fraud is supported by a consistent increase since 2023, with a 5% rise in losses noted.
6. The UK remains a hotspot for international card fraud, with losses increasing 8%, reaching £221.3 million, signifying growing cross-border criminal activity.
7. Fraud against mobile banking increased by 9%, reaching a record £43 million, reflecting the rise in mobile banking usage.
8. Authorised push payment (APP) fraud saw a decline in case volumes (8%), but a 12% rise in financial losses, driven predominantly by a 55% increase in investment scams.
9. Investment scams remain the largest APP scam category by value, representing 38% of total losses, with a 55% increase in total value.
10. The decline in impersonation scams involving police or bank staff and their related losses indicates heightened consumer awareness and improved prevention measures.
11. The prevalence of fraud originating online (66%) is significant, with social media and telecommunications enabling 66% of cases, yet these account for a smaller proportion of the total losses.
12. Different fraud typologies continue to evolve, necessitating ongoing collaboration and targeted action across sectors to mitigate emerging threats.

Key Statistics

• Total confirmed cases in H1 2025: 2.09 million (+17%) from 2024
• Total fraud losses: £629 million (+3%) from 2024
• Total unauthorised fraud losses: £372 million (3% decrease)
• Card fraud total losses: £298.9 million (+5%)
• Rise in remote purchase (CNP) cases: 22%
• Card-not-present (e-commerce) fraud losses: £159 million (+9%)
• Prevention of unauthorised card fraud: £682.2 million (+21%)
• Mobile banking fraud losses: £43 million (+9%)
• APP losses: £257.5 million (+12%), with investment scams up 55%
• Cases of investment scams: 6,471 (+14%)
• Losses from impersonation (Police/Bank Staff): £27.1 million (-18%)
• Reimbursement rate for APP fraud: nearly 90%

Key Discussion Points

• The continuous increase in overall fraud cases underscores the need for enhanced detection and prevention strategies.
• The effectiveness of industry prevention initiatives, notably the rise in prevented card fraud by 21%, validates ongoing investment.
• The surge in remote purchase fraud emphasizes social engineering vulnerabilities and OTP compromise as critical vulnerabilities.
• Despite a decline in certain categories, fraud losses on cards, especially remote fraud, persist at high levels, requiring sustained focus.
• The UK’s status as a hub for international fraud suggests the importance of cross-border coordination.
• Mobile banking fraud remains on the rise, aligned with increased adoptions of mobile platforms.
• Investment scams continue to dominate in terms of value, highlighting a shift towards more sophisticated, higher-value criminal activities.
• The decline in impersonation scams suggests that awareness campaigns and preventative measures are effective but require ongoing attention.
• Digital channels and social media are significant enablers for fraud, necessitating a collaborative, sector-wide response.
• The detailed insights into APP scams reveal clear variations in attack vectors, criminal enablers, and victim profiles.
• The near 90% reimbursement rate for APP fraud provides some relief for victims but leaves significant sums still exposed.
• The evolving nature of fraud tactics demands agile responses, cross-sector collaboration, and heightened consumer education to mitigate risk.

Document Description

This article is an in-depth report on fraud activity in the UK during the first half of 2025, compiled by UK Finance. It provides comprehensive analysis of fraud trends, categorisations, and preventative achievements across multiple channels including card, remote banking, and APP scams. The report covers case volumes, financial losses, and insights into modus operandi, supported by data from industry members. It underscores the dynamic and escalating landscape of financial crime, highlighting effective prevention measures alongside ongoing challenges requiring coordinated sector and government action.