Business & Technology
UK bank scam attempts rise 62% as fraudsters shift tactics
Attempted social engineering scams at UK banks rose 62% in 2025, according to BioCatch data covering more than 100 million retail banking accounts at nine UK lenders.
The fraud specialist said the increase reflects a broader shift towards authorised fraud, with criminals focusing more on manipulating customers than on older account-takeover methods.
Its report found that purchase scams rose 63%, romance scams 47% and investment scams 34% over the year. Phishing attempts more than doubled, up 140%, while fraud linked to stolen devices jumped 112%.
By contrast, remote-access fraud and malware-related fraud both declined, suggesting some traditional attack routes are becoming less prominent as banks tighten controls and criminals adapt.
Reported mule accounts also increased 16%, which may reflect both the continued spread of mule networks and stronger detection by banks.
Fraud shift
The findings add to evidence that customer behaviour has become a central point of vulnerability for banks. Authorised fraud, in which victims are persuaded to approve payments or grant access themselves, has become a persistent concern for lenders, regulators and law enforcement in the UK.
Tom Peacock, director of global fraud intelligence at BioCatch, said the rise in scam activity reflected a longer-term change in tactics.
“The continued growth of social engineering scams in the UK likely surprises no one. As banks bolstered their controls to protect customers from third-party fraud, fraudsters mastered the art of social engineering and haven’t looked back. Our data shows substantial increases in attempts across many scam types in 2025, highlighting just how pervasive authorised fraud has become in the UK,” Peacock said.
The report also highlighted the use of stolen mobile phones and other devices. BioCatch linked the sharp increase in stolen-device fraud to weaknesses that emerge when criminals gain control of a trusted handset already used for digital banking.
Jonathan Frost, global advisory director at BioCatch, pointed to crime data and insurance claims as evidence of the scale of the problem.
“In London alone, Metropolitan Police data shows us more than 70,000 phones were reported stolen in 2025. Insurance industry data shows the UK makes up 40% of all stolen device claims across Europe. If these devices are not well secured, criminals can profit in two ways: They can either sell the device or use it to commit fraud by bypassing normal security checks. Those criminals who do both will see significant gains for relatively little risk. Stolen devices undermine strong customer authentication. To address this, financial institutions should continuously assess behavioural intent, because once a bad actor has control of a trusted device, they can often commit fraud with relatively little friction,” Frost said.
Industry response
The report also raises questions about whether the response from the industry and regulators is keeping pace with changing fraud methods. The debate has become more urgent as banks invest more in fraud controls while criminals shift towards techniques that rely less on technical intrusion and more on impersonation, coercion and deception.
Katy Worobec, director at Azymus Consilium Fraud Consultancy and former managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said tackling the problem depended on identifying threats earlier and improving intelligence sharing.
“Winning the battle against fraud ultimately rests on the ability to identify and disarm the enemy at an early stage. Collation and exchange of intelligence between trusted allies is vital … Individual technologies and tools at the vendor level play their part too, gleaning information from the enemy by stealth, identifying behaviours, patterns, and signals that indicate whether transactions and interactions with organisations are genuine,” Worobec said.
The study was based on proprietary data from BioCatch customer institutions in the region. It also includes analysis of deepfakes in digital onboarding, highlighting another route through which identity checks may come under pressure as synthetic media tools become easier to use.
The latest figures suggest UK banks are making progress against some legacy forms of account compromise, but are still contending with fast-growing scam methods built around persuasion, impersonation and access to trusted devices.
Across the nine banks in the study, attempted social engineering scams, phishing and stolen-device fraud all rose sharply in the same year that malware and remote-access fraud declined.
Duke Property Ltd, which runs the Duke of Cambridge bar on Little Clarendon Street, entered Creditors Voluntary Liquidation on July 28.
This is a a liquidation procedure that enables a company to be wound up by resolution of the members of the company instead of by a court order.
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A statement said: “Notice is given that at a General Meeting of the Company, duly convened and held at the place and on the date given above, a special resolution was passed that the company be wound up voluntarily; and an ordinary resolution was passed appointing the Liquidator for the purposes of the winding-up.”
The liquidators appointed were from Fortis Insolvency, with Daniel Taylor of the firm stating that the economic climate over the last few years has provided “major challenges”.
He said: “It is always difficult when an individual or company faces insolvency, as one failure often impacts on others around them either directly or indirectly. From suppliers to employees to finance providers to HMRC, there is always a wider consequence.
“The economic climate over the last few years has provided several major challenges to businesses, and the fall-out continues to be encountered.
“We know that this business is not alone in what it has faced over recent trading periods, and suspect that there are more economic consequences yet to be felt.”
The Duke of Cambridge has also been approached for comment.
The company’s latest accounts, to May 31, 2025, show creditors falling within a year worth over £58,000 and an average of three employees, less than half the number from the year before.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire construction firm being wound up with £75K debts
On its website, the Duke of Cambridge describes itself as “Oxford’s leading cocktail bar” and says its has been open since 1981.
It adds: “Located in the bohemian district of Jericho, the bar is always bursting with atmosphere at the weekends with a more chilled vibe during the week.
“Fresh ingredients, cool interiors and friendly staff give The Duke genuine character and style.”
In addition it said that it is “currently closed for a refurbishment following a break in”, with Google also reporting the cocktail bar as closed.
It added that it would be “reopening soon”.
JOSEPH GABRIEL LAGONSIN
News Editor
Nearly half of UK adults have used artificial intelligence tools during their online shopping journey, according to a survey of 2,000 people commissioned by price comparison group Idealo.
The research found that 46% of UK shoppers had used AI tools while shopping online, and 19% said they consulted AI every day. It also suggested that 75% believe AI will significantly change how people shop in future.
Consumers appear most comfortable using AI at the research stage rather than letting it handle a full transaction. While 74% of AI users said the technology provides useful recommendations, only 41% said they would trust it to complete an entire shopping journey from product discovery to purchase.
The figures point to a gap between interest in AI shopping tools and confidence in them. Nearly a third of respondents, 29%, said AI helps them save time when shopping online, while 33% said they use it to summarise product features.
More than half, 54%, said AI can help them make better purchasing decisions overall. Yet a sizeable minority still prefer established habits, with 35% saying they would rather compare prices using traditional methods.
Trust issues
Concerns over privacy and reliability were central to the findings. Data privacy was the biggest worry overall, cited by 53% of consumers using AI-powered platforms.
At the same time, 42% said they were concerned AI tools could surface unreliable offers or direct them to fake retailers. Another 34% worried about inaccurate recommendations, while 19% viewed AI as a broader risk to society.
The results suggest shoppers are willing to use chatbots and other AI tools as a starting point for research, recommendations and price checks, but many remain cautious about the quality of the information they receive. That could matter for retailers and technology groups trying to make AI a bigger part of eCommerce.
The survey was commissioned after Idealo launched a ChatGPT app aimed at helping consumers with shopping-related searches. The findings suggest AI is becoming embedded in how many people look for products and deals, even as trust remains unsettled.
Nike Herzog-Osikominu, UK country manager at Idealo, commented on the shift in behaviour and the limits of consumer confidence.
“AI is rapidly becoming part of how people shop, particularly when it comes to researching products, comparing prices and finding the best deals. Consumers clearly see the value in having an assistant that can help them save time and make more informed purchasing decisions.
“At the same time, our research shows that trust remains the biggest barrier to wider adoption. While shoppers are increasingly turning to AI for recommendations, many still want reassurance that the prices, products and retailers being presented are accurate and reliable.
“As AI becomes a more common starting point for online shopping, consumers will expect greater transparency around where recommendations come from and whether offers can be trusted. The platforms that succeed will be the ones that combine convenience with credibility,” Herzog-Osikominu said.
The findings add to the wider debate about how quickly consumers will accept AI-led services in day-to-day purchasing. Although many respondents said the technology is useful, the lower level of trust in handing over the full buying process suggests adoption may depend as much on confidence and verification as on convenience.
Price comparison emerged as one of the clearest areas where respondents see value in AI tools. Even so, concerns that automated systems could point shoppers towards fake retailers or misleading offers highlight the commercial risk for platforms that fail to establish reliability.
Herzog-Osikominu also linked that issue to Idealo’s role in the market.
“This is exactly where Idealo adds value – by combining the convenience of AI-powered shopping with trusted price comparison, transparent retailer information and reliable product data, helping consumers make more confident purchasing decisions,” Herzog-Osikominu said.
The Lord Kitchener in Bampton Road, Curbridge closed down in August 2022, but was relaunched last month to the public.
Paul and Lianne Newton purchased the property from Greene King in 2024, free of lease, and set about organising an extensive refurbishment.
Mr Newton said: “We’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received so far.
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“We’ve already taken bookings for a wedding reception, and we’re receiving enquiries for events and private parties right through into 2027.
“It’s been an incredible start.”
The roadside oak-beamed pub dates from the early 18th century when it was known as the Herd of Swine.
The village social club was based there, and it supported local charities.
Military veteran Mr Newton now wants to turn it into a welcoming hub at the heart of the community.
It reopened on Wednesday July 15, but the couple say there are still some final touches to be done.
Mr Newton explained: “We knew there would always be more to do, but we wanted to get open, welcome people in and build a fantastic team.”
Included in that team is head chef James Brooks, who brings more than 30 years experience as a professional cook to the Lord Kitchener.
The menu is inspired by the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean, showcasing fresh ingredients and complemented by carefully selected drink pairings.
Food includes Pamboli sandwiches, tapas, burgers, fish and chips and Argentinian grill steak.
“We’re learning every day,” said Mr Newton, “adapting and continually improving as we bring our vision to life”.
He added: “Our goal is to create a place where everyone feels welcome and enjoys spending time.
“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone’s support, patience and encouragement as we continue to grow.
“We’re excited about the future of The Lord Kitchener and look forward to creating something truly special that the whole Curbridge community can be proud of.”
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Local councillor Liam Mackenzie said after it opened: “Great to see the Lord Kitchener reopen in Curbridge a couple of weeks ago, bringing the number of pubs in the Ducklington Ward from 1 to 2!
“The only question now – where else needs a new pub?!”
Curbridge and Lew Parish Council owns a one-acre field alongside the pub called the Lord Kitchener Field.
In the early 2000s the pub was owned by Oxford-based brewery Morrells, which Greene King bought.
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