Launch of ‘No Half Measures - A Blueprint to Beat APP Fraud’

Yesterday evening saw the launch of the APPG’s latest report: ‘No Half Measures - A Blueprint to Beat APP Fraud.’ Prepared in consultation with industry leaders, the report assesses how effectively the UK is responding to one of its most pervasive and damaging types of financial crime. The report examines the early impact of the new Mandatory Reimbursement Requirement (MRR), and considers what further steps are needed to build a fairer and more effective system.

The report highlights that APP Fraud remains a serious and evolving threat, with increasingly sophisticated scams and shifting tactics. Criminals are exploiting gaps in the current system – such as cryptocurrency platforms and international transfers – which remain outside the scope of reimbursement. While the MRR is a step forward in protecting consumers, its effectiveness depends on a balanced, system-wide approach that shares responsibility across all relevant actors, rather than placing disproportionate expectations on financial institutions alone.

In line with this, the report sets out a series of practical recommendations to inform the Government’s upcoming update to the Fraud Strategy, including improved prevention, clearer regulation, stronger data sharing, and more robust support for victims. It calls for a coordinated, cross-sector strategy involving Government, regulators, financial institutions, tech platforms, and law enforcement – emphasising that there can be no half measures in tackling APP fraud.