City of London Police intelligence assessment highlights emerging fraud trends and evolving threats
The City of London Police has published its first Report Fraud Annual Assessment today, revealing how fraud continues to impact victims across England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as highlighting the growing threats communities face from increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics.
The assessment, which draws on reports submitted by victims during the 2025/26 financial year, provides insight into the evolving methods used by fraudsters, including the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency., provides insight into the evolving methods used by fraudsters, including the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. It also highlights the significant financial, emotional and psychological harm that fraud can cause.
Reports where victims identified AI as a factor increased by 395 per cent, rising from 193 reports in 2024-25 to 956 reports in 2025-26. During the same period, reported losses linked to AI-enabled crime increased from £1.2 million to £9.6 million, demonstrating how criminals are increasingly exploiting new technology to make frauds more convincing and harder for victims to identify.
**Deputy Commissioner Nik Adams, at the City of London Police, said: **
"Behind every fraud report is a person whose life has been affected. Victims can lose not only money, but also confidence, peace of mind and trust in others. The Report Fraud Annual Assessment helps us better understand the experiences of victims and the increasingly sophisticated methods criminals are using to target them."
"Every report we receive matters. The information victims provide helps us identify emerging threats, protect others from falling victim and strengthens our response across law enforcement, government and industry. Fraud is not a victimless crime. By listening to victims and learning from their experiences, we can improve the support we provide and help prevent more people from suffering the same harm."
The findings from the assessment underline the importance of reporting fraud. While each report represents an individual experience of harm, together they help build a clearer understanding of the threats facing the public and support efforts to prevent further victims.
The assessment also highlights how information provided by victims is helping to improve the support available to those affected by cyber crime and fraud. Between January and June 2026, more than 180,000 victims received an outcome to their report, including an explanation of why a case had been closed and tailored prevention advice relevant to the type of cyber crime or fraud reported.
Over the same period, average times for report review, assessment, force dissemination decisions and victim updates reduced from 37 days to five days, with many cases reviewed within 24 to 48 hours. More than 10,600 victims also received specialist victim care services through Report Fraud, with customer satisfaction averaging 93 per cent. Nearly three quarters of surveyed victims said they felt safer as a result of the support and advice they received.
One of the most significant emerging threats identified in the assessment is the growing use of AI by criminals to support existing fraud types and create a false sense of trust and legitimacy.
Intelligence from victims shows criminals are using AI-generated videos, cloned voices, manipulated images, fake websites and chatbot technology to make fraud attempts appear more authentic and increase the likelihood of victims being deceived.
Investment fraud accounted for the largest proportion of AI-enabled reports. Victims commonly reported being targeted by AI-generated videos featuring trusted public figures apparently endorsing investment opportunities.
In one report, a victim described investing after seeing what appeared to be a video of a well-known celebrity promoting an investment opportunity on social media. The victim was shown a platform displaying apparent profits and was encouraged to invest further funds, before later discovering warnings suggesting the endorsement video had been generated using AI and was linked to a scam.
The assessment also highlights reports where victims believe criminals used AI-generated audio to clone voices and bypass telephone banking security measures.
The assessment also highlights the increasing role of cryptocurrency in fraud, particularly investment fraud, where victims are often persuaded to transfer funds into what appears to be legitimate investment platforms before discovering they have been defrauded.
The findings demonstrate how criminals continue to adapt their methods, exploiting new technologies to target victims and move criminal proceeds, creating additional challenges for enforcement and recovery.
The City of London Police, as the national lead force for fraud, is encouraging anyone who believes they have been a victim of cyber crime or fraud to report it through Report Fraud.
Every report counts as it represents somebody's experience of harm. As well as helping to understand emerging threats, reports can provide victims with access to advice, support and safeguarding where appropriate. The information shared by victims also helps law enforcement, government and industry partners work together to better protect the public from future harm.
Click here to read the full FY 2025/2026 Annual Assessment.