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UK Sets 2026–2029 Fraud Strategy Targeting Rising Crypto Scams

Officials cast fraud as a transnational, tech‑driven threat, prompting tighter public‑private coordination under clearer rules.

Overview

  • The government commits about £250 million over three years to enforcement, public awareness and expanded victim reporting.
  • Operational steps include a new public‑private Online Crime Centre, an expanded Stop Think Fraud campaign and the national rollout of the Report Fraud service.
  • Crypto firms serving UK consumers are slated for full FCA supervision by 2027, with HM Treasury’s digital‑asset regime scheduled for October 2027.
  • The plan builds on earlier FCA marketing curbs, while the National Crime Agency and Serious Fraud Office receive support to strengthen cryptoasset investigations.
  • Evidence cited includes Chainalysis’ estimate of up to $17 billion sent to scam‑linked crypto addresses in 2025 and a U.S. strike force reporting $580 million in seizures and freezes over three months, with most fraud affecting UK victims said to originate overseas.