‘Fraud in the Digital Age’ report released

“Fraud is evolving faster than the systems designed to tackle it”

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights the urgent need for reform as Part 2 of the Government-commissioned ‘Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences’ is published today, warning that fraud is evolving faster than the systems designed to tackle it.

The report ‘Fraud in the Digital Age’ examines how fraud has transformed in the digital era and sets out recommendations to help law enforcement, prosecutors and the wider criminal justice system respond more effectively to increasingly sophisticated offending. Jonathan Fisher KC comments:

“Fraud is not new. What has changed is the new context of the digital age, which is baffling policymakers, investigators, prosecutors and enforcers leaving a massive justice gap….it is clear that the UK needs to recalibrate its approach to fraud by treating it as a national security and economic priority rather than a low-level financial crime.”

Key recommendations include:

-Doubling the maximum sentence for serious fraud from 10 to 20 years
-Strengthening obligations on online platforms to help tackle fraud
-Improving whistleblower protections and incentives
-Introducing new offences targeting emerging fraud methods, including impersonation and money muling
-Enhancing international cooperation on evidence gathering, asset recovery and extradition
-Greater focus on fraud prevention and digital literacy

Alongside the publication of Part 2, the Government has also responded to Part 1 of the Review: ‘Disclosure in the Digital Age’ including reforms to modernise disclosure and enable digital material to be managed more effectively thereby reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and allowing police resources to be focused where they are most needed.

Jonathan Fisher KC concludes:

“By bringing the criminal justice system more squarely into the electronic age, the disclosure process can be transformed, saving millions of hours of police work, accelerating investigations and dramatically reducing the delays that prevent serious fraud cases from being brought swiftly to trial.”

Read the full report: 2025.12.31.Independent.Review.of.Disclosure.and.Fraud.Second.Report.Print.Version.CM (1)

Jonathan Fisher KC is ranked as a leading King’s Counsel in Financial Crime, Proceeds of Crime, Fraud (Civil and Criminal) and Tax (Corporate and VAT) cases. Additionally, he holds a PhD from LSE where he is a Senior Fellow and Visiting Professor in Practice