One in seven people ‘have lost money to fraud in past year’

23 June 2025, 00:04

A hand on a laptop
Fraud survey. Picture: PA

Many people favour security processes on their account over ease of access, a survey for TransUnion indicates.

One in seven people say they have lost money to fraud in the past year, according to a survey.

Some 14% of people surveyed in February said they had lost money to fraud in the past 12 months, financial insights company TransUnion found.

Half (50%) said that a fraud attempt had been made against them in the past three months.

The “consumer pulse” survey also found that a significant proportion of people favour account security processes over ease of access, with over three-quarters (78%) saying they do not want access to their accounts without being explicitly authenticated first.

Nearly half (49%) of people said they do not mind being authenticated again after an initial login, for example, when making a payment or changing a password.

Chad Reimers, general manager of fraud and identity at TransUnion in the UK said: “Quick and seamless journeys have become the norm.

“However, consumers are increasingly demanding trust as part of their interactions with digital channels.

“There are increasing demands from consumers to ensure security and authentication – and this spans across sectors, from financial services, to gaming, to online dating.”

TransUnion commissioned Dynata to carry out the survey among 1,000 people aged 18 or over across the UK.

As well as reporting incidents to the police, people who are concerned that they may have fallen victim to fraud should tell their bank or payments provider as soon as they can.

“This may help the provider to claw the money back and could also help to prevent further fraud attempts on the account.

Many banks have signed up to the 159 service – a memorable number that people can call if they have received contact that they suspect to be fraudulent.

People can also check their credit reports for any activity which may indicate fraud.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

Hacker and mobile with hologram data

Co-op announces partnership with social impact business

A girlfriend chatbot launched by Elon Musk’s tech group is programmed to engage in sexual conversations.

Elon Musk launches 'flirty' AI girlfriend which is available to children as young as 12

A young girl pictured having her eyes tested (Alamy/PA)

Routine eye scan could predict 10-year heart attack and stroke risk

WeTransfer logo is seen on a smartphone.

WeTransfer rejects claims new update will use users' data to train AI models

Co-op’s gesture to members following a cyber attack

Data stolen from 6.5 million Co-op members in ‘devastating’ cyber attack

A primary school teacher looking stressed next to piles of classroom books

State schools falling behind private schools in AI ‘digital divide’ – report

A laptop user with their hood up

Terror laws watchdog warns of risk posed by extremists using AI

An eldery man getting into an Uber vehicle

Uber rolls out ‘senior accounts’ in UK to help elderly people travel

A blurred laptop screen

Ofcom boss: Tech firms not given much power over how to protect children online

European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake (PA)

No limit to ChatGPT searches ‘remarkable’ given environmental impact – Tim Peake

CityFibre Broadband van

Openreach challenger CityFibre secures £2.3bn financing deal

The Grok X AI logo is displayed on a mobile phone with Grok seen in the background

Elon Musk's chatbot that praised Hitler was 'trained to use his personal beliefs'

Top view of the Milky Way galaxy showing the estimated orbits of both our Sun and the 3I/ATLAS comet

Mysterious space object may be oldest comet ever discovered, scientists say

Children with multiple long-term health issues undergo severe emotional stress at the same time as they are trying to cope with the physical challenges of their conditions, a study has found (Dominic

Children’s social media activity ‘highlights stress of living with health issue’

Scientists at Sheffield Hallam university have developed a new technique which they describe as a "powerful double weapon" to prevent cancer patients losing their hair during chemotherapy.

New technique hailed as ‘powerful double weapon’ against chemotherapy hair loss

Elon Musk

Elon Musk says his new AI model ‘better than PhD level in everything’