The campaign, announced by the NCA’s National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), targets a range of scams including bogus share sales, cryptocurrency schemes and so‑called recovery fraud, where criminals pose as helpers to retrieve stolen money.
Nick Sharp, deputy director of fraud at the NECC, said investment fraudsters deliberately prey on people seeking to stretch their savings, bombarding them with overwhelming data to create the illusion of huge returns.
“Average losses in an investment fraud are more than £25,000 – that is a life‑changing sum for most people – but it also does enormous harm to the trust and faith that people place in their own judgment as well as their confidence in making legitimate investments,” Sharp told reporters.
Victims often do not realise they have been duped until they attempt to close accounts or withdraw funds, at which point the fraudulent organisation may have vanished.
Steve Smart, executive director leading the fight against financial crime at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said the figures underline the need for tougher action against the perpetrators. He urged anyone who suspects they have been scammed to contact their bank and the police immediately and to preserve any messages that could aid an investigation.
The NCA’s new outreach effort includes online resources, social‑media alerts and guidance for the public on how to spot red flags such as unsolicited investment offers, pressure to act quickly, and requests for personal or financial details.