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Companies House’s 2025–26 Business Plan signals a bold shift in tackling economic crime, equipping the agency with cutting-edge digital tools, tighter ID checks, and expanded powers to curb abuse

June 17, 2025

A key focus is enhancing data integrity through AI-driven analytics, cloud-based platforms, and cross-agency intelligence sharing. Reforms will also tackle misuse of registered addresses, improve trust transparency, and modernise digital services—positioning Companies House as a proactive gatekeeper against illicit financial activity…

FCA issues updated Enforcement Guide (ENFG), effective 3 June 2025 for all new investigations, aiming to improve access to key information, boost transparency, efficiency, and regulatory clarity

June 9, 2025

Notable updates include a U-turn on publicity policy, dropping plans to name firms under investigation unless in exceptional or specified cases (e.g., unauthorised activity). It clarifies when lawyers may attend compelled interviews, limiting joint representation to avoid conflicts. The FCA also formalises its stance on accepting firm-commissioned reports under limited privilege waivers…

BoE and London BIS’s Project Hertha tested AI to detect FC in real-time retail payments, boosting illicit pattern detection by 26% and account identification by 12%, while revealing key limitations

June 5, 2025

The project focused on identifying illicit finance patterns in real-time retail payment systems through advanced transaction analytics. Notably, it achieved a 26% improvement in detecting previously unseen criminal behaviours and a 12% increase in the identification of illicit accounts compared to conventional methods. These findings suggest that AI-driven analytics could serve as a powerful supplementary tool for banks and payment…

CPS secures a £2.5M confiscation order against a convicted money launderer who moved an estimated £93–£110m in illicit cash from the UK to Dubai via couriers flying with £500K per trip

June 3, 2025

Alfalasi was the ringleader in this sophisticated money laundering operation, which also involved several co-defendants. He was sentenced to nine years and seven months’ imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on 28 July 2022 after he pleaded guilty to removing criminal property from England and Wales…

NCA’s UKFIU May 25 SARs Reporter Booklet highlights how SARs triggered asset freezes and forfeitures, uncovering links to shell companies, drug proceeds, and fraud – recovering over £800K in one case

May 30, 2025

Investigations revealed connections to shell companies, excessive gambling, nominee directors, and individuals with criminal backgrounds. Asset freezing orders (AFOs) and forfeitures followed, often recovering tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds. One case involved over £800,000 in restrained assets linked to suspected drug proceeds. Another uncovered a false business front used to launder funds, resulting in a £300,000 forfeiture…

FCA consults on Stablecoin and Cryptoasset custody rules to bolster AML defences through EDD, asset safeguarding, and Travel Rule compliance – feedback due 31 July 2025; final rules set for 2026

May 28, 2025

Stablecoins must be fully backed by low-risk, liquid assets, with issuers subject to rigorous liquidity ratio calculations (BACR) and prompt FCA notification in case of breaches. Redemption must occur at par value within one business day, and custodians must maintain robust safeguarding measures, including third-party due diligence, daily reconciliations, and detailed record-keeping. Cryptoassets must be held in non-statutory trusts, segregated from firm holdings, with clear disclosure, transparent outsourcing accountability, and enhanced client protection to minimise risk of failure and financial crime exposure…

UK Finance 2025 Annual Fraud Report reveals a complex fraud landscape, with 2024 fraud losses held at £1.17bn, despite a 12% rise in reported cases, with APP fraud down but card and investment scams up

May 27, 2025

Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud saw a decline in both value and volume, attributed to heightened industry investment and consumer awareness. However, unauthorised fraud losses rose to £722 million, driven by a 22% surge in remote purchase fraud, where stolen card details are used for online transactions. Notably, 70% of APP fraud cases originated online, and 16% via telecommunications networks. The financial sector successfully prevented £1.45 billion in unauthorised fraud, marking a 16% improvement from the previous year…

UK SFO launches bribery probe into Blu-3 and Mace associates over Microsoft data centre project

May 23, 2025

The investigation revolves around allegations that more than £3 million in bribes were paid to secure lucrative contracts, triggering coordinated property searches across the UK and Monaco and leading to three arrests. This case underscores the SFO’s growing use of fast, tech-enabled investigative techniques and its sharpened focus on international cooperation, whistleblower outreach, and the application of the new “failure to prevent fraud”…

CPS Economic Crime Strategy 2025 Final Report reveals UK’s firm stance on FC with 25K+ prosecutions, 85.4% conviction rate, and £1.6bn+ recovered through confiscations and major settlements

May 22, 2025

The report underscores strategic partnerships, modernised disclosure reforms, and increased use of digital tools, all aimed at improving case outcomes, enhancing victim support, and reinforcing public confidence. A new Serious Economic and Organised Crime strategy is now in development to continue this momentum…

NCA dismantles master forgery ring that made over £1m supplying fake IDs used by criminals to evade law enforcement, exploit financial services, and fuel organised crime and human trafficking

May 22, 2025

The counterfeit IDs, nearly identical to official licenses, enabled offenders to evade law enforcement and support serious organized crime. The forgers laundered over £1 million through a window cleaning business before being arrested, with authorities seizing extensive forgery equipment and cash…

House of Commons briefing reveals banking fraud soared to £1.2bn in 2023, making up over 40% of crimes against individuals, outlining urgent public and private sector action to tackle it

May 19, 2025

Despite the introduction of a new national fraud strategy and upcoming mandatory reimbursement rules for victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud, the briefing highlights continued enforcement shortcomings. Alarmingly, only around 2% of reported fraud cases are referred for investigation by local police forces, raising concerns about the capacity and prioritisation of fraud within the criminal justice system…

FCA confiscates over £300K from 3 convicted fraudsters, who ran a fraudulent investment scheme, cold-calling victims to invest in a shell company falsely claiming to trade binary options

May 14, 2025

Between June 2016 and January 2020, the trio cold-called individuals, convincing them to invest in a shell company purportedly trading in binary options. In reality, the funds were misappropriated to finance their personal lifestyles…

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