Take Five to Stop Fraud is alerting people to protect themselves online after recent figures show that there were over 4 million cases of fraud in 2025 and criminals stole nearly £1.3 billion (UK Finance Annual Fraud Report 2026).

Criminals are experts at impersonation and manipulation. They exploit trust, urgency and technology to trick people into handing over money or sensitive information. When it comes to authorised push payment fraud (APP), criminals often use investment scams, purchase scams and romance scams to trick people into parting with their money or information.

Purchase Fraud

A purchase scam is when a criminal convinces you to purchase goods or services that doesn’t exist. In 2025, purchase fraud accounted for 71% of all cases, equating to a loss of £118.1 million. Criminals create fake websites, seller profiles and social media ads to offer enticing deals – but they take your money and your personal information.

With purchase fraud on the rise, it is important to protect yourself. Avoid clicking on links you find on social media or email. These links could be a scam – instead, access websites by typing them into a web browser. You should also avoid paying by bank transfer as this can be a sign of a scam. Stick to secure payment methods recommended by reputable online retailers and online marketplaces.

Investment Fraud

Investment fraud is when a criminal manipulates you to invest in something that doesn’t exist. This fraud type cost the UK £221.5 million in 2025, a 40% increase from the prior period.

Fake investment opportunities might include shares, funds, cryptocurrency, gold, property, carbon, or high-end goods such as wine or art. Criminals use false promises to lure you in. They might also set up fake websites that look professional or impersonate a legitimate investment firm, and even post fake adverts online and on social media.

Be cautious of investment ads offering high returns of investment with little to no risk. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. You can say no and take your time to research if it’s legitimate or not.

Romance Fraud

In 2025, criminals stole £39.2 million through romance fraud, which is 23% more than the previous year. Romance fraud is when a criminal uses a fake profile to form a relationship with you. They try to gain your trust by appealing to your compassionate side, finding out personal information about you and creating fake stories so it seems like you have a lot in common. Once they have gained your trust, they start inventing reasons for needing money. These can be anything from an emergency situation, funds for travel to come and see you, asking you to take out a loan for them in your name, and many more. There will often be a promise of paying you back.

Naturally, it can be hard to know and difficult to question people’s intentions when you are dating online. It’s important to avoid sending money to someone you have met online or in person only a few times, especially if they declare strong feelings for you quickly. Research the person you are talking to and stay alert for inconsistencies in their stories. Finally, remember to reach out – speak to family and friends about who you match with online. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank – they are there to help. This is not for you to deal with alone.

Jess Cook, Take Five spokesperson said:

‘Fraud has a devastating impact, and criminals use sophisticated tactics to exploit trust, create panic and pressure people into making decisions they would not otherwise make. Behind every case is a person who may lose not only money, but also their sense of trust and confidence. That’s why it’s so important to Stop, Challenge and Protect before parting with money or personal information.’

With fraud continuing to rise across the UK, it’s more important than ever to stay alert to the tactics criminals use to steal money and personal information. From purchase, investment and romance scams to wider impersonation attempts, fraudsters are constantly adapting their methods to exploit trust, create urgency and pressure people into acting quickly. By understanding how these scams work and recognising the warning signs, people can better protect themselves and those around them. That’s why following the Take Five to Stop Fraud advice remains so important:

• STOP: Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could keep you safe.
• CHALLENGE: Ask yourself, could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
• PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and tell the Police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.

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