The impact of AI on online fraud in London
Fraud is the most commonly experienced crime in the UK. The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales showed that in the year ending September 2025, there were over 4 million incidents of fraud.
This was an 8 per cent rise on the previous year, and an increase of around 750,000 cases reported per year since the survey first started measuring fraud in March 2017.1
A 2023 report found consensus amongst experts that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will drive an increase in “the volume and sophistication of fraud and scams.”2 It argued that unless the right measures to combat AI are put in place, “hard-fought improvements in fraud defences could be undone.”3
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet tomorrow to explore online fraud in London, focusing on the work of the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit, how the Met works with partners to tackle online fraud, and how it supports victims.
Guests include:
- Will Lyne, Head of Economic and Cybercrime, Metropolitan Police
- Oliver Little, Lead Force Operations Room National Coordination, City of London Police
- Lara Xenoudakis, City of London Police
- Rory Innes, CEO and Founder, The Cyber Helpline
- Ruth Halkon, Research Manager, The Police Foundation
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Office for National Statistics, Crime in England and Wales: year ending September 2025, 29 January 2026
- PwC and Stop Scams UK, Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Fraud and Scams, December 2023, p. 4
- PwC and Stop Scams UK, Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Fraud and Scams, December 2023, p.6
- Marina Ahmad AM, Chair of the Police and Crime Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police and Crime Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251 727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.