£6.4M lost to investment fraud in Norfolk in 2025
Nationally, every minute saw £1,675 lost to investment fraud
Investment fraud has claimed a staggering £6,474,220 from victims in Norfolk during 2025, according to new figures.
Nationally, every minute saw £1,675 lost to investment fraud, with criminals taking away £879.8 million last year, marking an average of £2.4 million a day in losses.
Report Fraud, the service now responsible for receiving such complaints, recorded 34,673 reports of investment fraud in 2025, a 31 per cent increase from the previous year.
The City of London Police attribute the rise to economic uncertainty and sophisticated online platforms used by fraudsters.
The rise in complaints heightened from March, with peaks in July and September as people reviewed their investments ahead of the new financial year.
In many cases, victims discovered their investments were fictitious, with average losses of £25,612 per individual, impacting pensions or long-term financial plans.
Detective Superintendent Oliver Little of the City of London Police emphasised the impact on victims.
"Investment fraud continues to have a devastating impact," Little said.
He warned that criminals use well-crafted websites and branding to disguise their scams.
"We’re urging the public to take their time, carry out proper checks and get independent financial advice before parting with any money."
Investment fraud schemes vary, including counterfeit online trading, fraudulent bond schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and deceptive social-media adverts featuring popular public figures.
Fraudsters increasingly use AI-manipulated videos and deepfake endorsements to ensnare victims.
Additionally, recovery fraud has emerged, preying on past victims under the guise of retrieving lost funds, only to request upfront fees and disappear.
The rise of 'finfluencers' on social media—young personalities promoting high-risk investments—has added complexity.
Though not all are involved in criminal activity, their posts may legitimize high-stakes trading, making followers targets for scammers.