Brits lost £220 million to investment fraud in 2025. Here’s how to keep your money safe

According to data reported by the Guardian, British savers lost more than £220 million to investment fraud in 2025 alone. 

A major reason for this is the swift evolution of AI, which has become more advanced and harder to spot. Scammers are now using AI to create convincing deepfakes, clone legitimate websites, and design realistic smartphone apps that mimic genuine platforms. 

The online landscape is difficult to navigate, and falling victim to a modern scam is not a reflection of poor judgement. Rather, it’s a reflection of how realistic and sophisticated these traps have become. 

Fortunately, by understanding how these scams operate and knowing what to look out for, you can protect your hard-earned wealth. 

Learn these five modern investment red flags

With the help of modern tools, fraudsters are now able to set up elaborate facades of legitimacy at little to no cost, making it easier for them to manipulate your trust. 

Because these traps are designed to appear authentic, learning to spot the subtle signs behind them can be your first line of defence against investment fraud. Here are five red flags to look out for: 

1. Stolen likenesses and deepfakes: Scammers can now use advanced AI software to generate realistic video and audio copies of trusted public figures. They use the inherent authority of these figures to push their scams. For example, in 2023, Martin Lewis’s face and voice were cloned and used to endorse a non-existent cryptocurrency investment scheme. The BBC reports that a man lost £76,000 as a result. 
2. Guaranteed high returns with no risk: Any scheme that promises consistent returns while assuring you that your money is completely safe is a trap. A fundamental rule in the financial world is that there is always some degree of risk in investing. While working with an adviser can minimise that risk, you cannot eliminate it completely. This means that a guarantee of financial safety is likely false. 
3. Manufactured urgency: Fraudsters rely heavily on creating a fear of missing out, so they will often tell you that an opportunity is limited to a select few. They may also push you to move your funds immediately to take advantage of a specific window of opportunity. 
4. A push for secrecy: Alongside this pressure, they may actively discourage you from discussing the opportunity with your family or financial planner, as they know that receiving that outside perspective is likely to shatter the illusion. 
5. Unsolicited approaches on informal channels: Modern investment fraud often begins on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Legitimate, regulated financial firms will not handle communication through these channels. 

The above are just a few common examples of investment fraud red flags, and we may yet encounter more. To account for this, it’s important to have a way to verify information when you are presented with a potential investment.

Take these practical steps to verify an investment opportunity 

If someone ever approaches you with an investment opportunity, or you discover an enticing platform online, pause and follow these key steps before you move any money. 

1. Consult the FCA register: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) maintains a public register of every authorised financial firm in the UK. If a company is not on this register, it is not authorised to handle your money. You can also check the FCA’s Warning List, which names specific clone firms that are actively pretending to be a legitimate business. 
2. Call the number back: Fraudsters often impersonate genuine investment houses, and it’s become easier than ever to spoof a phone number to look legitimate. If you receive an unexpected call from a financial firm, hang up. Look up the company’s official phone number on the FCA register and call them back through that line to confirm if the communication was real. 
3. Reject inbound proposals: As a rule of thumb, you can choose to simply ignore the unexpected. If an investment opportunity comes to you through a cold call, a social media link, a pop-up ad, or an unsolicited message, ignore it as your default.

Ultimately, where technology has made fraud easier to commit, your financial planner can act as a necessary buffer to help shield your wealth. 

A financial planner can act as your shield

Planners do more than help you grow your money. We undertake extensive and rigorous due diligence on your behalf. Every investment, tax wrapper, or fund that is recommended by us has been thoroughly vetted and verified to ensure it’s compliant and structurally sound. 

By making it a habit to discuss any new financial opportunities with us before you execute them, you remove the emotion and pressure that scammers rely on. This gives you an opportunity to take a step back and view the offer from a more objective angle. 

Moreover, working with a dedicated financial planner means that your entire portfolio remains secure. 

Get in touch 

You don’t have to navigate the AI fraud landscape alone. We’re here to help you protect what you’ve built. 

Email enquiries@jesellars.co.uk or call 01934 875 919 to find out more about how we can help you. 

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. 

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.