aceInvestment fraud in UK soared to more than £220m lost last year, trade body says
Abstract: Increasingly elaborate investment scams involving gold, cryptocurrencies and wine have soared in the past year with more than £220m lost to the fraud, according to a report. UK banks reported almost 15,000 investment scams in 2025 as criminals use artificial intelligence to dupe people out of their money. About £221.5m was lost to scams in which people were persuaded to move their money to a fake investment or a fictitious fund, a rise of 40% from the year before, according to the report from UK Finance. This parti
UK Finance reported almost 15,000 investment scams in 2025, with about £221.5m lost after people were persuaded to move money to fake investments or fictitious funds, a 40% rise on the prior year. The report said criminals use artificial intelligence to dupe people and that advances in AI make large-scale scams easier, with schemes involving gold, cryptocurrencies and wine.
The scale of losses matters because it shows AI lowering the cost and increasing the reach of high-return fraud for criminals, shifting risk onto consumers and banks. It remains uncertain how much of the 40% increase is directly attributable to AI versus other factors, and what prevention or reimbursement measures will curb future losses.
- UK banks reported almost 15,000 investment scams in 2025 according to UK Finance
- Losses rose 40% year-on-year to about £221.5m from fake investments and fictitious funds
- Scams increasingly involved gold, cryptocurrencies and wine and were described as high-return for criminals
Criminals using artificial intelligence to run investment scams persuaded UK victims to move money into fake funds, causing about £221.5m in losses in 2025
Sources
- JournalismThe Guardian2026-06-15
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