Home Office launches cyber crime squad targeting overseas scammers to help individuals and UK businesses

A new cyber crime squad targeting international fraud gangs is being launched by the Home Office, with ministers saying the move will help protect individuals and UK businesses, including small firms and independent retailers, from the country’s most widespread crime.

The new Online Crime Centre will begin operations in April, bringing together specialists from police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks and technology companies to coordinate action against scammers operating across the world.

Backed by more than £30 million in funding and forming part of a wider £250 million Fraud Strategy over the next three years, the centre will identify and shut down the accounts, websites and phone numbers used by organised crime groups to target people and businesses in the UK.

Authorities say the approach will allow intelligence to be shared more quickly between law enforcement and industry, helping block scam texts, freeze criminal bank accounts and remove fraudulent social media profiles at scale.

Fraud remains the UK’s most prevalent crime, affecting around one in 14 adults and one in four businesses, with scams such as phishing emails and payment diversion fraud increasingly impacting smaller companies and independent retailers.

Fraud minister Lord Hanson said: “Fraudsters are exploiting new technology, industrialising their operations and targeting the British public at scale.

“That’s why we’re bringing together the key players in the system – police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks, regulators and tech companies – to shut down the channels scammers rely on, wherever they operate from.

“Our new Fraud Strategy sets out how we will use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle criminal operations, bring fraudsters to justice and strengthen protection and support for victims.”

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