Suffolk investment fraud victims lose over £4million

Victims in Suffolk lost more than £4million to investment fraud last year.

Across the country, victims lost an average of £1,675 every minute in 2025, according to new figures from the City of London Police, the National Lead Force for Fraud.

Nationwide, criminals stole £879.8million through investment fraud - an average of £2.4million a day. In Suffolk there were 282 reports with £4,298,390 lost.

Report Fraud received 34,673 reports of investment fraud. Report Fraud is the national service that replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. This marks a 31 per cent rise on the previous year, with officers warning that fraudsters are taking advantage of economic uncertainty, volatile markets and increasingly convincing online platforms to lure in victims.

The rise in reporting is not only linked to an increase in investment fraud, but also due to the point at which victims realise what has happened. Reports began climbing steadily from March and spiked in July and September when many people review their investments, move money into new products or check their returns ahead of the new financial year.

For thousands of victims, it was only at that point that the truth became clear: the investment they were sold never existed. Losses averaged £25,612 per person, often representing pension savings or long‑term investments.

Lauren Speirs, Fraud Protect and Prevent Officer for Suffolk Constabulary, said: “The £4.2 million lost to investment fraud in Suffolk last year represents hundreds of local people whose trust was deliberately exploited.

“This form of fraud often looks polished and professional, but no legitimate investment will ever rush you, guarantee high returns or ask you to keep it secret.

“We want residents to know that help is available and if something doesn’t feel right, stop and check before you part with your money, and report concerns as early as possible. Reporting concerns early can make a real difference – not only in helping victims access advice and protection, but also in preventing others from being harmed.”

Detective Superintendent Oliver Little, from the Lead Force Operations Room at the City of London Police, said: “Investment fraud continues to have a devastating impact on victims, many of whom lose life‑changing amounts of money. Criminals are using professional‑looking websites, persuasive sales tactics and even cloned branding from real financial firms to appear legitimate.

“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 last year ranged from bogus online trading platforms to fake bond schemes, cryptocurrency opportunities and glossy social‑media adverts that appeared to feature well‑known public figures. Fraud reports have highlighted how criminals now deploy AI‑manipulated videos, deepfake endorsements and cloned websites to draw victims in, echoing patterns seen across the wider fraud landscape.

Another growing problem is so‑called “recovery fraud”, where criminals return to previous victims while posing as law enforcement, lawyers or specialist recovery firms. They promise to retrieve stolen money but instead charge upfront fees and disappear. Detectives describe this as one of the most cynical developments in the fraud world, as criminals effectively monetise a victim’s desperation a second time.

Although victims were recorded in every police force area in the UK, the data suggests the picture may be even broader; more than a quarter of people reporting investment fraud did not disclose their location, limiting the ability to map the full spread of cases. Older adults, particularly those over 60, remained the most likely to come forward, in part because they are more likely to have significant savings or pension pots invested.

In parallel with these trends, officers have also observed a rise in so‑called “finfluencers” across social media - predominantly young male personalities who boast about making “easy money” on high‑risk trading platforms, particularly those linked to forex and rapid‑turnover investments.

Their content often glamorises quick wins, luxury lifestyles and aggressive self‑improvement narratives, themes recently explored in Louis Theroux’s documentary on the online ‘Manosphere’. While not all of these personalities are involved in criminal activity, their posts can create a false sense of legitimacy around speculative trading and make inexperienced followers more vulnerable to opportunistic scammers who mimic the same language, style and promises.

As part of wider fraud‑prevention work, the City of London Police is urging the public to take simple steps to protect themselves.

You can also contact the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768 or report suspicious businesses or individuals by using the reporting form on their website.