The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) received 31,300 complaints about fraud and scams in 2025, new data has shown.

The service urged consumers to remain vigilant for scams, as fraudsters increasingly target those looking to improve their financial situation through online opportunities.

Within the total, around 20,000 complaints came from people who had authorised a payment as part of a scam. This included authorised push payment (APP) scams, where people transfer money directly from their bank account, as well as cases where a consumer inadvertently used their debit or credit card to pay a fraudster. In both situations, the payment is treated as authorised by the financial provider.

An APP scam typically involved criminals manipulating victims into sending money – often under pressure or false pretences. The FOS would then consider whether a bank should have done more to protect its customer from harm and whether consumers did enough to protect themselves.

Anecdotally, over half of the 20,000 authorised payment scam complaints to the FOS related to online investment scams. These often begin with adverts on social media or search engines prompting “high return” opportunities, frequently linked to cryptocurrency.

These scams often start with a small investment that appears to grow quickly. Victims are then encouraged to invest larger sums, only to be told they must pay fees, taxes or charges before they can withdraw the money. In reality, the money is lost to the scammer.

“Financial concerns can make it easier for fraudsters to tempt people by promises of easy money with high-commission online jobs, or by investing in cryptocurrency. Be wary of these opportunities,” ombudsman director at the FOS, Patrick Hurley, said. “Be wary of these opportunities.

“If you’re ever asked to transfer money for an investment or a job opportunity, pause and do your research first. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.”

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