Signal Fraud is the most common UK crime at 3.9 million offences

Summary

Office for National Statistics figures put the number of fraud offences in the UK at about 3.9 million in the year to June 2024, making fraud the country's most common crime. The main types include payment diversion, investment, romance, courier and bank account fraud. The report argues that growing digital footprints and online anonymity have given fraudsters more chances to target people. Technological advances such as AI have also made their schemes more sophisticated. In the short term, it expects cost of living pressures to leave people more easily drawn into investment scams that promise quick riches.