UK fraud losses reach £1.28 billion
Thursday 27th August, 2026
UK payment fraud losses reached £1.28 billion in 2025, while phone scams caused a disproportionately large share of losses.
This gives Wise a chance to talk about safer international payments and why customers should pause and verify unexpected payment requests.
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Why have we flagged this?
Rising UK payment fraud and AI-enabled scam calls are highly relevant to Wise customers, giving you an opportunity to share practical cross-border payment safety advice and fraud insight.
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These are starting points for inspiration, not finished ideas.
Expert comment
Tell consumers urgency is the real scam warning sign
A Wise fraud expert can explain that polished language and convincing voices are no longer reliable indicators of trust.
Expert comment angle: Offer the spokesperson to consumer finance journalists covering the rise in AI-enabled scam calls, with a clear rule: pause, end the call and verify independently.
Why: It gives audiences a memorable safety lesson that directly responds to voice cloning and rising authorised payment fraud.
Newsjack
Create a five-minute pause-and-verify money checklist
Publish a simple checklist for anyone asked to make an urgent payment after a phone call, including how to use 159 and independently verify details.
Newsjack angle: Create the checklist within days and pitch it to MoneySavingExpert, consumer finance desks and national personal finance reporters.
Why: It turns alarming fraud figures into practical help people can use immediately, with a natural link to safer money transfers.
Expert comment
Warn that trusted voices can no longer prove payment requests are genuine
A Wise spokesperson can argue that consumers must verify the request itself, not rely on recognising the caller’s voice or number.
Expert comment angle: Offer this specific view to BBC consumer, Which? and national newspaper journalists reporting on AI voice scams and authorised push payment losses.
Why: It is a distinctive response to the changing nature of fraud and challenges an outdated assumption many consumers still make.