01 Sep 2025Data published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that 4,465 reports of scams were made in the first six months of 2025. 480 individuals were tricked into sending money to criminals, the FCA found. Almost two thirds of the reports were made by people aged 56 years old or above. One of the most common scam methods reported is fraudsters claiming that the FCA has recovered funds from a crypto wallet that was opened illegally in the person's name. Other criminals contact loan scam victims and claim the FCA can help them to recover the funds they lost, subsequently persuading them to part with more money. A third tactic is for fraudsters to email individuals to tell them creditors have taken out a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against them and they must pay the FCA the money owed. Steve Smart, Joint Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, said: 'Fraudsters are ruthless. They attempt to steal money from innocent victims by impersonating the FCA. We will never ask you to transfer money to us or for sensitive banking information such as account PINs and passwords. If in doubt, always check.'