The UK Government has announced the creation of a new Online Crime Centre designed to disrupt organised fraud networks and strengthen the country’s response to what has become one of its most widespread crimes.
Launching operations in April 2026, the centre will bring together specialists from law enforcement, intelligence agencies, banks, telecom providers, regulators and major technology companies to coordinate action against fraud at scale. Backed by more than £30 million in funding, the initiative forms part of a broader £250 million national fraud strategy aimed at tackling the growing threat over the next three years.
The centre will focus on identifying and dismantling the infrastructure used by organised crime groups, including fraudulent bank accounts, scam websites, mobile numbers and social media profiles. By enabling organisations to share intelligence in real time, authorities hope to build a clearer picture of global fraud networks and shut down scams more quickly.
According to the government, the scale of the challenge is significant. One in 14 UK adults and one in four businesses have been victims of fraud, with economic losses estimated at more than £14 billion each year. Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said the new strategy reflects the increasingly industrialised nature of fraud operations.
“Fraudsters are exploiting new technology, industrialising their operations and targeting the British public at scale,” he said. That’s why we’re bringing together the key players in the system – police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks, regulators and tech companies – to shut down the channels scammers rely on, wherever they operate from.”
For merchant fraud professionals, the strategy signals a stronger emphasis on cross-sector collaboration and intelligence sharing, with financial institutions, retailers and digital platforms expected to play a greater role in identifying and disrupting fraudulent activity.
The government also plans to deploy artificial intelligence tools to detect emerging fraud patterns, identify suspicious bank transfers more quickly and use automated systems such as scam-baiting chatbots to gather intelligence on fraud networks.
International cooperation will also form a key part of the strategy. With more than two-thirds of scams originating overseas, the UK is expanding intelligence partnerships with countries where organised scam operations are active. Recent agreements with Nigeria and Vietnam have already led to arrests and the shutdown of several scam compounds.
Alongside enforcement measures, the strategy includes improved support for victims through a national fraud victims charter, setting out response times, minimum standards of care and clearer guidance on recovery and reimbursement.
Officials say the new approach aims to create a more coordinated, technology-driven response to fraud as the government works with industry to disrupt criminal networks and strengthen the UK’s defences against online scams.
