Anti-scam campaigners are calling on UK police forces to take a tougher stance against fraudsters, claiming that financial scams have become a penalty-free crime costing victims millions.
This appeal comes just days after the UK government announced an expanded fraud strategy as part of a robust response to rising fraud cases. According to the Office for National Statistics, reported fraud incidents surged by 19% last year.
The renewed focus on tackling fraud follows a major data leak earlier this month that revealed a $35 million (£27 million) scam call centre operation.
Swedish public broadcaster SVT shared over a million scam-related phone call records with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the Guardian, and other investigative partners.
Jorij Abraham, managing director of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), highlighted how easy it is for scammers to operate without consequences.
He stated that fraud is low-risk, low-cost, and highly rewarding, urging politicians worldwide to allocate more resources to law enforcement agencies.
Speaking at GASA’s London conference, he described fraud as a crime that comes with little to no punishment and requires urgent action.
Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer rights organisation Which, emphasised the crucial role of law enforcement in tackling the UK’s fraud crisis.
She urged collaboration between police, the government, and businesses—including telecom firms, banks, and online platforms—to share intelligence and prevent scams before they reach consumers.
She also pointed out that UK law enforcement faces challenges in tackling complex online scams, as many are orchestrated by organised crime groups operating outside the country.
In addition to policing efforts, she called for regulators to impose financial penalties on businesses that fail to implement adequate anti-fraud measures.
During the GASA conference, UK fraud minister Lord Hanson stressed the need for relentless pursuit of fraudsters. He warned that money lost to fraud is often funnelled into other criminal enterprises and emphasised the importance of delivering justice for victims.
The $35 million scam operation, based in Georgia, targeted UK residents more than any other nationality. British victims accounted for nearly a third—around £9 million—of the total stolen funds. Among the 2,000 individuals worldwide who suffered the biggest losses, 652 were in the UK, with some losing over £100,000 each.
While Georgian prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the Tbilisi-based scam operation, it remains unclear whether they are receiving support from international agencies.
The UK’s National Crime Agency has not confirmed whether it is collaborating with international authorities to investigate the call centre. Similarly, the City of London Police, responsible for leading fraud investigations in the UK, declined to comment on whether it had offered assistance to Georgian authorities.
As fraud cases continue to rise, anti-scam groups are urging UK law enforcement to take stronger action, ensuring that fraudsters face real consequences for their crimes.
