UK fraud overhaul plans GBP £30m Online Crime Centre

The UK government has outlined an expanded national approach to fraud, including funding for a new Online Crime Centre and plans to disrupt organised criminal groups operating abroad.

The strategy describes fraud as the UK's most prevalent crime. It proposes targeting overseas scam operations, strengthening public protection, and commits GBP £250 million over the next three years.

A key element is a proposed GBP £30 million Online Crime Centre, intended to bring together relevant organisations and strengthen the response to online crime and fraud. The strategy also points to improved intelligence and reporting, and closer coordination between the public and private sectors.

Online Crime Centre

BioCatch, a fraud detection and prevention firm, welcomed the proposed centre but questioned the pace and execution. Jonathan Frost, BioCatch's Director of Global Advisory for EMEA, said it would need decisive leadership and rapid access to information to keep up with criminals.

"It's great to see the long-awaited UK Fraud Strategy finally released, and the plan to create an Online Crime Centre is very welcome," Frost said.

He argued that real-time sharing of threat data should be a core requirement from day one, warning that online criminals move quickly and are not constrained by process.

"The OCC will need strong, capable strategic leadership to fight fraudsters and cybercriminals. Sharing threat data in real time is a day-one requirement; it cannot be an aspiration. Criminals move fast and don't follow rules, so the government must be bold to level the playing field," he said.

Automation questions

The plans come as policymakers and industry groups increasingly focus on the role of artificial intelligence in fraud. Criminals already use AI for social engineering and other forms of deception, while many financial institutions use automated tools for transaction monitoring and behavioural analysis.

Frost said the new centre would need more than co-located staff and a shared workspace, and warned that manual processes would not match the scale and speed of modern fraud.

"Since criminals are already using advanced AI, the OCC won't succeed merely by just bringing organisations together. Sharing data "instantly" through colocated staff isn't enough. Because the problem is so big, we need a fast, mostly automated response. This is especially important for bank account misuse, where alerts should happen in milliseconds, not hours," he said.

His comments underline a broader operational challenge for anti-fraud efforts. Many controls depend on information arriving fast enough for banks, telecoms companies and online platforms to act before victims transfer money or hand over credentials. That often requires technical integration between organisations and clear processes for handling sensitive data.

Data quality

The strategy also emphasises reporting and intelligence gathering. Reporting systems can help identify trends, link incidents to known criminal networks, and refine public warnings, but their value depends on the completeness and reliability of the information received.

Frost raised concerns about the quality of data collected through the UK's fraud reporting routes, pointing to the need for validation and the risk that poor inputs could undermine the use of AI.

"While the goal is admirable, high-quality data is essential to the effective use of AI. I worry that Report Fraud isn't well-equipped to provide that data. Despite significant investment, the online reporting service provides little validation of the information entered. Given how long the new service has taken to develop, it is inexcusable for past mistakes to be repeated," he said.

Frost previously worked in law enforcement, leading the development of the UK's National Fraud and Cybercrime Reporting system at the City of London Police. He has also worked on projects for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office, and served as Director of Technical Collaborations at Stop Scams UK alongside technology and telecoms firms.

The strategy calls for closer cross-sector collaboration and a stronger focus on disrupting organised crime groups operating outside the UK. Banks, technology platforms and consumer groups will be watching closely as the Online Crime Centre moves from proposal to delivery, including its leadership model and approach to real-time intelligence.