The government has published its Fraud Strategy 2026 to 2029 and announced an Online Crime Centre, due to launch operations in April, affecting fraud victims, banks, telecoms firms and businesses.
Key facts
- Who: Adults and businesses targeted by fraud; banks, mobile networks, tech firms and police working on fraud
- From: 9 March 2026 (strategy published); Online Crime Centre operations start in April
- Source: New disruption unit launched in crackdown on fraud
On 9 March 2026 the government published a new and expanded fraud strategy, with £250 million to be invested over the next 3 years. The Online Crime Centre forms part of it and will bring together specialists from government, police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks and major tech firms.
The centre, backed by over £30 million, will identify the accounts, websites and phone numbers that organised crime groups rely on and shut them down at scale. That includes blocking scam texts, freezing criminal accounts and removing scam social media accounts. It will go after the highest-harm offenders who direct international operations.
The government says 1 in 14 adults and 1 in 4 businesses have been a victim of fraud, costing the economy over £14 billion a year. Over two-thirds of scams originate abroad, and the strategy follows the rise in overseas scam compounds across Southeast Asia, West Africa, Eastern Europe, India and China. Agreements with Nigeria and Vietnam to share intelligence have already resulted in multiple arrests and scam compounds being taken down in the past year.
The strategy also sets out:
- support for law enforcement to use artificial intelligence (AI) to spot emerging fraud patterns, stop suspicious bank transfers faster and use scam-baiting chatbots to gather intelligence;
- a new fraud victims charter setting out response times, minimum standards of care and consistent advice on reimbursement and recovery;
- a dedicated network of police "PROTECT" officers to help those most vulnerable to fraud in fraud hotspots;
- targeted prevention using data from the new Report Fraud service, from doorstep advice to installing call-blocking devices in vulnerable homes and businesses.
Reforms are also being considered to speed up court processes and strengthen the use of civil powers, so that fraudsters face swifter justice and tougher financial penalties.
In future the Online Crime Centre will join up with the National Police Service, which will take over responsibility for leading the national fight against fraud. Responsibility for delivery will sit between government, regulators, law enforcement and industry.
What this means for fraud victims and businesses
The strategy sets out national standards for how victims are treated, including the planned fraud victims charter on response times, minimum standards of care and advice on reimbursement and recovery. It also describes targeted prevention work for people and businesses at heightened risk. The court reforms are still being considered.