Take Five to Stop Fraud – 2025 Update

Fraud continues to rise across the UK, and criminals are finding ever more sophisticated ways to trick people out of their money. In 2024 alone, there were over 3.3 million cases of fraud; a 12% increase from the previous year, costing billions of pounds to individuals and organisations alike.

The good news is that you can take simple steps to protect yourself, your loved ones, and even your community. The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign, run by UK Finance, encourages everyone to Stop, Challenge, Protect when dealing with suspicious requests.

This guide brings you the latest guidance for 2025, along with updates on new scams and legal changes you need to know about.

Why Fraud is Rising in 2025

Fraudsters are exploiting new technology and social behaviours to stay one step ahead. Some of the most common and fast-growing scams this year include:

  • Remote purchase fraud – where people are tricked into handing over one-time passcodes or authentication details to complete fake transactions (The Guardian).
  • Impersonation and cloning scams – fake websites, emails, and even social media profiles mimic real companies, charities, and government departments (Financial Times).
  • AI and deepfake fraud – criminals are now using artificial intelligence to create realistic voices and videos, making impersonation even more convincing.
  • Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud – when victims are manipulated into willingly transferring money to a fraudster’s account.

The Law is Changing

From 1 September 2025, a new legal offence comes into force under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Large organisations will be criminally liable if they fail to prevent fraud committed by employees or associates (Crown Prosecution Service).

For individuals, this means stronger protections – and for companies, a clear responsibility to have robust fraud prevention measures in place.

How You Can Protect Yourself: Stop, Challenge, Protect

The core advice from the Take Five campaign led by UK Finance remains simple, but it’s more important than ever in 2025:

1. STOP

Take a moment to think before sharing information or making payments. Fraudsters thrive on creating panic and urgency.

2. CHALLENGE

It’s OK to say no.

  • Could this request be fake?
  • Use trusted contact details, not the ones provided in a suspicious message.
  • If someone claims to be from your bank, the police, or a regulator, hang up and call back using an official number – preferably from a different phone.
  • Double-check payment details with a known contact before transferring money.

3. PROTECT

  • If you’ve been targeted, contact your bank immediately.
  • Report the incident to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040).
  • Check whether the organisation you’re dealing with is authorised via the FCA register.
  • Keep a close eye on your bank statements and consider using alerts for unusual activity.

Extra Protection Tips for 2025

  • Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
  • Be careful what you share online – oversharing personal details on social media makes it easier for fraudsters to build convincing scams.
  • Check website addresses – look out for small spelling differences or unusual domain endings that indicate a cloned site.
  • Educate family members – younger and older generations are often targeted differently. Discuss fraud prevention openly.
  • For non-native English speakers – fraudsters often target communities where English is a second language. UK Finance has produced translated guides in multiple languages (see resources here).

Real Stories, Real Warnings

  • An individual in Manchester was tricked into transferring her life savings after a caller, using an AI-cloned voice, claimed to be her son in trouble.
  • A small business nearly lost £50,000 after receiving a fake invoice that looked identical to their supplier’s. Only a double-check with the supplier prevented the loss.

These examples show how convincing scams can be. Awareness is your best defence.

Where to Get Help

If you think you’ve been scammed:

  1. Contact your bank immediately.
  2. Report the scam to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040.
  3. Keep copies of emails, texts, or screenshots.
  4. Contact Citizens Advice for further support.
  5. If you feel distressed, reach out to friends, family, or support groups – fraud can take an emotional toll as well as a financial one.

Final Thoughts

Fraud can happen to anyone – no matter how careful you are. But by remembering to Stop, Challenge, Protect, you’ll make it much harder for criminals to succeed.

For more advice and resources, visit the official Take Five campaign site.

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