Stop! Think Fraud, the National Campaign Against Fraud, launches today
A major campaign to transform the fight against fraudsters launches today (12 February 2024).
Stop! Think Fraud is backed by leading counter fraud experts who are uniting under one voice to provide consistent, clear and robust anti-fraud advice to the public.
Fraud accounts for around 40% of all crime in England and Wales, with an estimated 3.2 million offences each year. The latest data from the Crime Survey of England and Wales shows it has reduced by 13% over the past year. The estimated cost of fraud to society is £6.8 billion in England and Wales.
Fraud has also more than doubled in Scotland over the past 9 years and reports spiked in Northern Ireland during the pandemic, with a decline now being observed.
The evidence led campaign draws on the expertise of leading counter-fraud experts and includes an online fraud hub which will provide concise, simple to follow advice. It will also signpost victims to relevant organisations for further advice and support.
Impactful adverts will also be prominently displayed in public settings, from billboards to radio, and from TV screens to social media. It is anticipated the campaign will be seen by 95% of adults in the UK over the coming weeks.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said:
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:
Stop! Think Fraud is a ground-breaking step forward against the most prolific crime type in the UK and delivers on the Fraud Strategy’s commitment to release a public awareness campaign.
It has been created to empower a mass audience, with a new website providing vital guidance on how to spot fraud, stay safe and what to do if targeted. The web address will be www.gov.uk/stopthinkfraud.
The campaign has far reaching support among the tech, financial and retail sectors, as well as law enforcement, victim care agencies and consumer groups. Supporting agencies have pledged to prominently display the Stop! Think Fraud advice and share it among their stakeholders.
They will also update pre-existing fraud advice they have shared in public places and replace it with the Stop! Think Fraud messaging and branding.
This one clear set of advice will remove confusion, which was a risk with so many different campaigns previously existing in the same space.
Temporary Commissioner Pete O’Doherty, from the City of London Police, said:
Nick Sharp, Deputy Director for Fraud at the National Crime Agency, said:
Felicity Oswald, Chief Operating Officer of the National Cyber Security Centre, said:
The launch of Stop! Think Fraud is a significant milestone in the Home Office’s delivery of the Fraud Strategy, published in May 2023.
Key strategy pledges already fulfilled include the agreement of the world’s first charter to prevent online fraud, the rollout of the National Fraud Squad and the appointment of a government anti-fraud champion, a post occupied by Simon Fell MP.
Another strategy commitment will be delivered next month, when the Home Secretary welcomes interior ministers from international partners to London for the first ever Global Fraud Summit.
Representatives from Interpol, the EU Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will also be present, alongside some of the biggest companies and consumer groups in the world.
Wayne Stevens, National Fraud Lead at the charity Victim Support, said:
Marc Allera, CEO, BT Group’s Consumer Division said:
Matt Hepburn, Fraud Spokesperson at TSB, said:
The Home Office is working with the following stakeholders on the campaign: