Fraudsters will be stopped in their tracks by a new online crime squad, set up to disrupt the gangs behind Britain’s most pervasive crime.

Launching operations in April, the new Online Crime Centre will bring together specialists from the government, police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks and major tech firms to drive co-ordinated action against fraud.

It forms part of a new and expanded fraud strategy published today, which sets out how the government will disrupt fraudsters and protect the public – with £250 million invested over the next 3 years in the fight.

In a major upgrade to Britain’s defences, the police and companies that hold vital intelligence on scams will work side by side, sharing data instantly and building a single picture of global fraud networks.

Backed by over £30 million in funding, the centre will identify the accounts, websites and phone numbers that organised crime groups rely on, and shut them down at scale – blocking scam texts, freezing criminal accounts, removing scam social media accounts and disrupting operations at source. It will go after the highest harm offenders, who are responsible for directing international operations to steal from hardworking Brits.

The strategy comes as 1 in 14 adults, and 1 in 4 businesses, have become a victim of fraud, costing the economy over £14 billion a year. It sets out how the government will shut down the tools criminals exploit, shore up the UK’s defences, and boost support for victims.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said:

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.

It follows the rise in overseas scam compounds operating across Southeast Asia, West Africa, Eastern Europe, India, and China – places where fraud is scripted and scaled to target thousands of victims at once.

With figures showing over two-thirds of scams originate from abroad, the Home Secretary will drive global leadership in the fight against scammers at the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna next week.

Agreements with Nigeria and Vietnam to share intelligence to bear down on fraud have already resulted in multiple arrests and scam compounds taken down in the past year. Empowered by the intelligence picture provided by the Online Crime Centre, the government will relentlessly pursue new opportunities to take out organised crime and partner with countries where fraud targeting the UK is on the rise.

The strategy also sets out how we will back law enforcement to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to spot emerging fraud patterns, to stop suspicious bank transfers faster and to use scam-baiting chatbots to trick fraudsters and gather intelligence, before using it to bring them to justice.

James Babbage, Director General (Threats) at the National Crime Agency, said:

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.

Pete O’Doherty, City of London Police Commissioner and National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Cyber and Economic Crime, said:

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.

Victims will also receive stronger support under the strategy, through the establishment of clear national standards for how every victim is treated. A new fraud victims charter will set out response times, minimum standards of care and consistent advice on reimbursement and recovery, to ensure the public receive the same service no matter where they live.

A dedicated network of police ‘PROTECT’ officers – charged with helping those most vulnerable to fraud – will ramp up targeted support in fraud hotspots across the country. Using data from the new Report Fraud service, police will spearhead a campaign of targeted prevention – from doorstep advice to installing call-blocking devices in vulnerable homes and businesses – to ensure those at heightened risk are protected.

Fraudsters will also face swifter justice and tougher financial penalties under reforms being considered as part of the strategy to speed up court processes and strengthen the use of civil powers.

In future, the Online Crime Centre will join up with the National Police Service, as they take over responsibility for leading the national fight against fraud – creating a stronger, single frontline with the power to drive our response at scale.

The Fraud Strategy 2026 to 2029 introduces a new system-wide approach to disrupt fraudsters and ensure our response is co-ordinated, technology-driven and international, to match the threat we face. Responsibility for delivery will sit between government, regulators, law enforcement and industry.