UK Fraud Strategy 2026–29: Tackling AI-Driven Fraud

The UK government is preparing a Fraud Strategy for 2026–2029 that will redefine responsibilities for banks, fintechs, telcos and online platforms in countering AI-driven fraud. A webinar on June 9 will examine the early-warning intelligence organisations need, ahead of the NextGen FinCrime conference on July 8 in London.

The strategy sets out a system-wide approach asking industry and law enforcement to work more closely on prevention, detection and disruption of networks using advanced technologies. Identified threats include synthetic identities, AI-generated impersonation, deepfakes and the exploitation of real-time payment rails. The strategy is expected to call for faster intelligence sharing, stronger identity controls and clearer governance across sectors.

Speakers at the June 9 webinar include Rob Eastick, director and crypto lead at iSanctuary, and Dr. Roger Miles, consulting behavioral analyst. Teresa Connors will moderate the session. The programme will cover why current data-sharing models are not delivering early warnings and what signals organisations should monitor across payments, digital identity, crypto markets and online platforms.

The discussion will highlight structural vulnerabilities. Real-time payments allow suspect funds to move across accounts in seconds, narrowing the window for intervention. Synthetic identities and AI tools let fraudsters create credible profiles at scale. Deepfakes enable impersonation in voice and video channels. Many legacy controls were designed for slower, more manual fraud patterns.

Panelists will address barriers to timely data sharing, including legal and privacy constraints, inconsistent data standards, siloed internal systems and limited incentives for cross-sector collaboration. The session will examine how to design faster, standardised exchanges that protect privacy while supporting rapid operational responses.

Technologies likely to be explored include predictive analytics, behavioral biometrics, tokenization, cloud-native fraud platforms and risk-based authentication. Governance measures under discussion include transaction monitoring rules for instant payments, stricter API security, incident reporting requirements and cross-sector operating playbooks to coordinate responses.

Identity systems will be a central topic. Speakers plan to discuss moving beyond passwords and basic multi-factor authentication toward continuous, behavior-based verification and stronger identity proofing at onboarding. The webinar will identify the signals defenders want faster access to, such as credential reuse, device links and anomalous behavioral patterns that may indicate automated or manipulated interactions.

Emerging risks in digital assets and decentralized finance will be covered. The agenda will address cross-chain transfers, anonymous mixers and DeFi protocols that can enable rapid movement of illicit funds. The session will outline steps for organisations to map crypto exposures, strengthen transaction monitoring for on- and off-ramps and work with specialised crypto intelligence providers.

A forward-looking segment will consider quantum-accelerated threats to current cryptographic systems. The webinar will discuss assessing key security horizons, planning cryptographic agility and developing roadmaps for migration to quantum-resistant algorithms where exposure is material.

The June 9 webinar will preview topics to be discussed in more depth at NextGen FinCrime on July 8 in London, focusing on early-warning indicators, cross-sector data standards and operational steps to detect criminal innovation earlier.