Recommendation 21

Fraud is a global issue and criminals are increasingly using the internet to target victims from anywhere in the world. In the year to June 2022, 80% of frauds in England and Wales were enabled through computer technology, and the NCA estimates that around 70% of frauds have an international element. The NCA told us that this international element can cause significant delays to investigations as cases are complex and gathering evidence from overseas can be very time-consuming. The NCA acknowledged that a more proactive approach is needed to stop these crimes before they happen, rather than waiting until a fraud has been committed to then have to investigate a complex international crime.45