Authorized push payment (APP) fraud losses in the UK reached £257.5 million in the first half of 2025, marking a 12 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to recent data from UK Finance.
The primary driver behind this rise in APP losses was investment scams, where criminals persuade victims to transfer funds to fictitious investments. These scams accounted for £97.7 million in losses, representing a 55 percent increase year-over-year.
Purchase scams, where individuals pay upfront for goods or services that are never delivered, continued to be the most prevalent form of APP fraud, comprising 72 percent of all cases. Additionally, losses from romance scams, where victims are misled into believing they are in a relationship, increased by 35 percent.
Conversely, losses and cases related to impersonation of police or banking officials declined significantly in the first half of this year, partly due to educational campaigns. The total volume of such cases fell by 16 percent, with losses decreasing by 14 percent.
In total, £159.2 million in APP losses was refunded to victims in H1 2025, representing 62 percent of the overall amount stolen. Most scams originated outside the banking system, with 66 percent starting online and 17 percent via telecommunications.
UK Finance is urging the government to mandate that technology and telecommunications sectors contribute to fraud reimbursement and collaborate more effectively in sharing expertise and intelligence.
Jonathan Frost, global advisory director at BioCatch, stated, “The continued growth of authorized push payment (APP) fraud remains a major concern. Addressing APP fraud will require more than just technology; it necessitates better and cross-industry collaboration. The UK market is primed for real-time intelligence sharing and should embrace it to continue leading the global fight against fraud.”