New disruption unit launched in crackdown on fraud

The UK government has unveiled a sweeping new strategy to tackle fraud, including the creation of a dedicated Online Crime Centre designed to disrupt organised criminal networks responsible for scams targeting the public and businesses.

The new centre, which will begin operations in April, will bring together experts from across government, policing, intelligence agencies and the private sector to coordinate action against online fraud. Banks, mobile network providers and major technology companies will also work alongside law enforcement to identify and dismantle the infrastructure used by scammers.

The initiative forms a central pillar of the government’s updated fraud strategy, released today, which outlines a range of measures aimed at protecting the public and targeting the organised groups behind scams. Over the next three years, £250m will be invested in strengthening the country’s ability to prevent fraud, detect criminal activity and support victims.

The Online Crime Centre will act as a central hub where intelligence from multiple sectors can be analysed and acted upon in real time. Police officers and companies that hold critical information about fraudulent activity will collaborate closely, enabling faster identification of scam networks and the tools they rely on.

Backed by more than £30m in funding, the centre will focus on identifying the digital infrastructure that fraudsters depend on, including phone numbers, websites and bank accounts linked to scams. Once detected, these assets can be rapidly shut down, disrupting criminal operations and preventing further victims.

Authorities say the centre will target high-harm offenders who coordinate large-scale international fraud schemes aimed at UK victims. These groups frequently operate from overseas locations and use sophisticated methods to reach thousands of potential victims at once through text messages, social media platforms and online marketplaces.

The government says the strategy comes at a time when fraud has become one of the most widespread crimes affecting people in the UK. Current figures indicate that around one in fourteen adults and one in four businesses have been victims of fraud, with economic losses estimated at more than £14 billion annually.

The strategy outlines a coordinated effort to close off the channels used by scammers, strengthen national defences against fraud and improve support for those affected.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said the scale and sophistication of modern scams meant the response must evolve to match the threat.

“Fraudsters are exploiting new technology, industrialising their operations and targeting the British public at scale.

That’s why we’re bringing together the key players in the system – police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks, regulators and tech companies – to shut down the channels scammers rely on, wherever they operate from.

Our new fraud strategy sets out how we will use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle criminal operations, bring fraudsters to justice and strengthen protection and support for victims.”

Authorities say the international nature of modern fraud has played a major role in shaping the strategy. Organised scam compounds operating overseas have increasingly targeted the UK, often using scripted tactics and coordinated call centres to carry out mass fraud campaigns.

These operations have been reported in regions including Southeast Asia, West Africa, Eastern Europe, India and China, where criminal groups are able to scale their activities and target large numbers of victims simultaneously.

Government data suggests that more than two-thirds of scams affecting UK victims originate outside the country, making international cooperation an essential component of any enforcement strategy.

The Home Office says the UK will continue to strengthen partnerships with overseas governments to track down fraud networks and dismantle operations targeting British citizens.

At the upcoming Global Fraud Summit in Vienna next week, the Home Secretary is expected to push for deeper international cooperation on fraud prevention and enforcement.

Recent intelligence-sharing agreements with countries including Nigeria and Vietnam have already led to arrests and the closure of several scam operations during the past year. Officials say the enhanced intelligence gathered through the Online Crime Centre will further strengthen these efforts, helping identify emerging threats and coordinate action across borders.

Another key element of the strategy involves expanding the use of advanced technologies to detect and prevent fraud. Law enforcement agencies are expected to deploy artificial intelligence tools capable of identifying suspicious patterns in financial transactions and detecting new scam methods earlier.

AI systems could also be used to halt potentially fraudulent bank transfers before money is lost, as well as to deploy automated “scam-baiting” chatbots designed to engage with fraudsters, gather intelligence and help investigators track down those responsible.

James Babbage, Director General (Threats) at the National Crime Agency, said the strategy builds on work already underway to strengthen the UK’s response to fraud.

“Over the last 3 years, the National Crime Agency has been building a stronger response to fraud. However, the threat will continue to grow globally, and the launch of the Fraud Strategy provides the basis for a further step change in our collective work to protect the UK public from these criminals.

We have worked intensively with partners to pilot a range of new approaches to fraud and cyber crime: sharing data, stopping and blocking more online crime at source, and helping to design out vulnerabilities through more resilient industry processes. We are looking forward to working with partners across the public and private sectors as part of the new Online Crime Centre to continue this.”

Police leaders say improving intelligence and collaboration across the policing system will also be critical.

Pete O’Doherty, Commissioner of the City of London Police and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for cyber and economic crime, highlighted the importance of stronger coordination with industry partners.

“We are transforming the national policing response to fraud and cyber crime with an inspection regime, working with HMICFRS, that ensures every police force is making fraud a priority, but we need the wider industry collaboration set out in this new strategy to stop criminals.

We are embedding Report Fraud and building the best crime intelligence law enforcement has ever seen, which will feed the Online Crime Centre – providing crucial data to disrupt fraud and cyber crime, and shaping our messaging to the public and businesses being ruthlessly targeted.”

Supporting victims also forms a key component of the strategy. The government plans to introduce a national fraud victims charter establishing clear standards for how victims should be treated by authorities and financial institutions.

The charter will outline expected response times, minimum levels of support and consistent guidance on compensation, reimbursement and recovery processes.

In addition, a network of specialist police officers known as PROTECT officers will be expanded to focus on prevention and support for those most at risk of fraud. Using information from the national Report Fraud system, these officers will identify high-risk areas and provide targeted interventions such as community advice campaigns, doorstep support and the installation of call-blocking technology in vulnerable households.

Officials also plan to examine reforms aimed at accelerating fraud prosecutions and increasing the financial penalties imposed on offenders, including stronger use of civil powers to recover stolen funds.

Looking ahead, the Online Crime Centre will work closely with the forthcoming National Police Service, which is expected to take on a leading role in coordinating the country’s response to fraud.

The government says the Fraud Strategy 2026–2029 represents a shift towards a fully coordinated, technology-driven and internationally focused response to fraud, involving collaboration between government departments, regulators, law enforcement agencies and the private sector.

Together, officials say these measures will help ensure the UK is better equipped to confront a rapidly evolving and increasingly global criminal threat.