UK Fraud & Cybercrime Statistics
Live UK fraud and cybercrime counter 2026. Approximately 3.7 million fraud and computer misuse offences are recorded in England and Wales each year according to Home Office data.
About These Statistics
Fraud and computer misuse are the most commonly experienced crimes in England and Wales, accounting for approximately 3.7 million offences per year according to Home Office Crime Statistics. This equates to over 10,000 fraud and cybercrime offences every single day.
Fraud offences include advance fee fraud, banking and payment card fraud, consumer and retail fraud, dating scams, doorstep crime, identity fraud, investment fraud, mandate fraud, and online shopping fraud. Banking and payment card fraud accounts for the largest financial losses, with UK Finance reporting losses of approximately £1.2 billion per year from unauthorised fraud.
Computer misuse offences — which include hacking, malware distribution and denial of service attacks — account for a growing proportion of the total. The NCSC reports that the UK faces approximately 2.4 million cybercrime incidents per year, with ransomware attacks on UK organisations increasing year on year.
The financial losses from fraud are substantial. UK Finance estimates total fraud losses against UK consumers and businesses at approximately £2.3 billion per year for unauthorised transactions alone. When authorised push payment fraud — where victims are tricked into transferring money — is included, total losses are significantly higher.
Fraud is significantly under-reported. The ONS Crime Survey estimates that only approximately 17% of fraud victims report their experience to Action Fraud or police. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud receive approximately 400,000 reports per year, a fraction of the estimated true total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How much fraud is there in the UK each year?
Approximately 3.7 million fraud and computer misuse offences are recorded in England and Wales each year, making fraud the most commonly experienced crime type. Financial losses from unauthorised fraud amount to approximately £2.3 billion per year according to UK Finance, with total losses including authorised push payment fraud considerably higher.
What are the most common types of fraud in the UK?
The most common fraud types in the UK include banking and payment card fraud, online shopping fraud, identity fraud, investment fraud, advance fee fraud and mandate fraud. Online fraud has grown significantly, accounting for approximately 1.2 million of the fraud offences recorded annually. Banking and payment card fraud causes the greatest financial losses at approximately £1.2 billion per year.
What should I do if I'm a victim of fraud in the UK?
If you are a victim of fraud in the UK, you should report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you have been the victim of a banking fraud, contact your bank immediately as they may be able to recover funds. The Victim Support charity also provides assistance to fraud victims. Report suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.