Fraud is now the most common crime in Britain - more numerous than burglary, theft and criminal damage combined, yet the one a victim is least likely to see investigated. The government's Fraud Strategy 2026-2029, subtitled Disrupting Crime, Supporting Economic Resilience and Delivering Justice, is its attempt to change the arithmetic. Here is what it commits to and, more usefully, what it means for someone who has just been scammed.
The three pillars, in plain English
- Disrupt. Deny criminals the tools, systems and accounts they exploit - a national fraud disruption push, sustained pressure on money-mule networks, and faster action on the infrastructure (phone numbers, domains, mule accounts) rather than only chasing individual fraudsters.
- Protect. Move responsibility upstream onto the platforms and communication services where scams start: fraudulent advertising on social feeds, fake marketplaces and malicious texts.
- Respond and deliver justice. Better support for victims, more consistent reimbursement, and more proceeds seized and returned - reinforced by the companion anti-money-laundering and asset-recovery strategy.
Why the focus is on where scams start, not your bank
The money usually leaves through ordinary bank rails, but the deception begins elsewhere. In 2025 66% of APP-fraud cases started online and 17% via telecommunications, and the phone-originated scams carried the heaviest losses (UK Finance). That is why the industry is pressing - on the back of the strategy - for enforceable duties: obligations on high-risk platforms to stop fraudulent adverts, marketplaces verifying sellers and holding payments, and technology and telecoms firms contributing to prevention instead of leaving banks as the only line of defence.
What this changes for you as a victim
- Refunds get more consistent. The PSR reimbursement regime - banks must normally refund APP scams sent over Faster Payments and CHAPS - is the template; expect tighter service standards. Our explainer: will my bank refund a scam payment.
- Faster freezing of mule accounts. Disruption work aims to shut receiving accounts before your money is laundered on - which is exactly why reporting within hours, not weeks, now matters more.
- More seized money to claim. A heavier asset-recovery focus means more confiscation, and victims who file can be paid. See how government-seized crypto claims work.
- Better reporting plumbing. Action Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk and growing data-sharing between banks, platforms and police mean your report feeds a system that can act on patterns, not just your case.
What it does not do - honestly
- It does not assign a detective to your individual loss; most consumer fraud still will not be investigated case by case.
- It does not guarantee reimbursement; the gross-negligence and coverage tests still apply.
- New platform duties are phased in slowly, and the Online Safety Act and Ofcom codes take time to bite.
So civil recovery still fills the gap. A private solicitor route can seek a freezing order and disclosure orders against a traceable recipient months before any public action reaches it. How to report fraud in the UK sets out the order of play.
The practical takeaway
The strategy improves the machinery and the odds at the margins, but the variables that decide your outcome are unchanged and mostly in your control: speed, evidence, and choosing the right route - bank claim, platform dispute, or civil recovery. A confidential assessment with a senior investigator tells you which of those is still live on your money.
General policy commentary, not legal advice. The commitments above are drawn from the government's Fraud Strategy 2026-2029 and UK Finance reporting; delivery, scope and timelines are still evolving.
Want to know what these changes mean for your specific case? Talk to our team - we assess your evidence first and tell you honestly which route gives you the best chance of recovery.
