Fraud figures are soaring - and last year, the illegal practice cost the economy £190billion pounds, with many losing their identities and life savings as a result
However, new figures show the practice of it could be a lot more common than you think with one in seven people admitting their guilty of such scams.
New figures from Cifas - the UK's largest fraud database - show 'fronting' is now the most common type of consumer fraud in the UK - where a car owner intentionally lies about the main driver on their vehicle for a cheaper car insurance quote.
The impact of this type of fraud, however, could see individuals driving without valid insurance, and in some cases, result in a criminal record.
Nevertheless, according to Cifas, fronting is largely considered "reasonable" by four in ten Britons.
According to the agency's figures, while one in seven British adults have committed one or more types of consumer fraud, two in three know someone who has.
The second most common tactics is 'deshopping', where a buyer purchases items with the intention of wearing them before returning the goods for a full refund.
Next comes money-muling - where the account holder allows criminals to use their bank account, in exchange for a share of the financial gains.
Interestingly, ‘money muling’ is considered 'reasonable' by one in five Britons, the consequences of which could result in individuals unable to open a bank account and obtain a mortgage, as well as a potential prison sentence.
Lastly, on the consumer spectrum, is 'claimed non delivery' fraud, where the buyer orders goods online, which they then falsely claim never arrived.
"It’s sad to note how common fraud is among the British population, and that even more people find such acts of dishonesty acceptable," explained Mike Haley at Cifas.
"Many people seem unaware that what they consider to be reasonable, such as buying shoes to wear for a night before returning them, or adding their parent as a main driver for cheaper insurance, can be considered acts of fraud.
"We wanted to raise awareness of the consequences what can be considered everyday fraud, such as finding it difficult to obtain a financial product or a mobile phone account, and in some cases such as being a money mule, end up with a criminal record."
