The number of alleged fraud cases being heard in UK courts has almost doubled compared to the same period in 2020, figures show.
The increase follows UK courts clearing a backlog of cases following Covid-19 lockdowns.
Figures from KPMG UK’s Fraud Barometer show 151 alleged fraud cases were heard in the first six months of the year as courts used virtual and face-to-face sessions to catch up after lockdown restrictions.
The figures do not include online fraud but do include cases with a value of more than £100,000.
The pandemic appears to have led to a spike in fraud, with cases involving UK victims increasing by 285% to 50 cases in the first half of 2021 to a value of £43.1 million.
This is compared with just 13 cases heard over the same period in 2020 to a value of £22.6 million.
Cases relating to rogue tradesmen more than doubled in volume and were valued at £2.5 million in the first half of 2021.
These mostly involved elderly and vulnerable people who were scammed for unnecessary work or paid for services that were then never delivered.
KPMG said this spike was potentially the result of an absence of family members or carers who would usually offer support or financial advice on these matters.
Roy Waligora, partner and head of UK investigations at KPMG, said: “Professional criminals have seized on the opportunities created by the global pandemic to target victims in their own homes.
“From phishing and text scams to posing as banks to get unsuspecting customers to allow their accounts to be taken over – having a captive audience at home during lockdown has provided the perfect opportunity for unscrupulous criminals to take advantage.
“During the pandemic there were a number of consumer campaigns to raise awareness of scams that were doing the rounds, but professional gangs are adept at moving on to the next big scam quickly.
“Keeping consumers alert and educated on the new types of scams coming through remain crucial in the fight against organised criminals.”
