UK’s National Fraud Database filed 444,000 fraud cases in 2025 - Cifas

The National Fraud Database (NFD) recorded 1,200 cases every day in 2025 and over 444,000 in total which is the highest number ever reported in a single year.

72% of the 2025 cases were linked to identity fraud and account takeover, showing how criminals are accessing personal data to profit and attack the vulnerable.

The data showed that 2025 saw a 6% increase in recorded fraud cases from 2024, and Cifas members prevented £2.4 billion in fraud losses.

Nick Sharp, deputy director of fraud at the National Crime Agency (NCA) stated that fraud makes up 45% of all crime in England and Wales.

18% of all the findings were account takeover cases, amounting to 78,000 cases. 90% of the account takeover cases originated from online retail and personal credit cards. Unauthorised SIM swaps rose as a scheme to steal personal information in 2025.

The NFD found that identity fraud accounted for 54% of all fraud-risk cases reported in 2025, adding up to over 242,000 identify fraud cases filed. The largest amount of identity fraud cases were seen in bank accounts (over 63,00 cases) and insurance (over 16,000 cases).

While there has been a 3% decrease in identity fraud since 2024 according to the research, it still amounts to over half of the schemes – demonstrating how criminals are changing tactics more geared towards account takeover.

Stephen Dalton, director of intelligence at Cifas, said: “Criminals are shifting to more subtle methods such as credential stuffing, SIM swaps, and gradual profile changes, to evade detection. We anticipate more use of AI to personalise attacks and build credible, long-term profiles – reinforcing the need for cross-sector collaboration to spot patterns earlier.”

Fraud linked to money mules added up to 22,000 cases, the NFD found; indicating that money mules and luring in victims with job scams still remains a persistent tactic by fraudsters.

Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, commented: “Our data and intelligence show how fraud is being industrialised, with AI accelerating crime that is increasingly digital, organised and international. Fraud must be treated as a national enforcement priority. Closing the gap requires decisive action, robust disruption of criminal networks, and greater sharing of cross‑sector data and intelligence to stop fraud at the source.”

Want to hear more about financial crime? Why not consider attending Finextra’s NextGen FinCrime event in London on 8 July 2026. Find out more at nextgenfincrime.com.