More than 214,000 cases were filed to the Cifas National Fraud Database (NFD) between January and June 2024, an increase of 15% compared with the same period in 20231. Identity fraud was the most commonly reported type of fraud, with over 127,000 cases recorded in the first half of 20241.
Cifas receives its data from members including companies across the banking, retail, insurance and telecoms sectors, and combines data from its National Fraud Database, Insider Threat Database and law enforcement for its reports1.
Two other categories also rose. Facility takeover, where an account is taken over by a fraudster, was reported in over 37,000 cases in the first half of 2024, up by 99% on the same period in 2023; 36% of those cases happened on online retail accounts and 40% were in the telecom sector1. Misuse of facility, where an account is misused by the genuine account holder, such as money muling, accounted for over 37,000 cases, a 9% rise compared with 20231.
| Fraud type, first half of 2024 | Cases | Change on first half of 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| All cases filed to the NFD | Over 214,000 | Up 15% |
| Identity fraud | Over 127,000 | Not reported |
| Facility takeover | Over 37,000 | Up 99% |
| Misuse of facility | Over 37,000 | Up 9% |
Cifas said that only through greater collaboration and sharing of critical data and intelligence across all sectors, including law enforcement, the private sector and government agencies, could the UK's fraud emergency be tackled1.
"Cifas stated how it's only through greater collaboration and sharing of critical data and intelligence across all sectors, including law enforcement, the private sector and government agencies, that the UK's fraud emergency can be tackled."
A coalition led by Which? with banks and telecoms companies is calling on the government to ensure more businesses can better share intelligence to detect fraud and protect their customers1. The coalition believes that sharing fraud indicators would give businesses more information to recognise an attack before it happens1. Fraud is the most common crime in the UK1.
Why it matters for households
Identity theft is when personal details are stolen, for example when a criminal buys details from the dark web after a data breach or goes through someone's post to find documents; identity fraud is when those details are used to obtain goods or services in the person's name, such as opening a bank account or taking out a phone contract1. The rise in reported cases means more households are affected by accounts and services being opened or taken over without their knowledge, and the figures cover the six months to June 20241.
Which? advises that anyone who becomes a victim of identity fraud should contact their bank, credit card company and the local police on the non-emergency number, 101, as soon as possible, and can also report the incident to Action Fraud1. It also suggests checking your credit file to see whether any accounts have been opened in your name that you do not recognise1. Its wider guidance on identity theft includes asking Royal Mail to redirect post for at least a year after moving home, and telling your bank or card company if an expected statement does not arrive1. The Take Five and Stop! Think Fraud campaigns cover similar ground on unsolicited contact.
What happens next
No further Cifas reporting dates for 2024 are given in the coverage1. The coalition's call on the government to remove barriers to data sharing has been made, but no response or timetable has been reported1.
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