Arbuthnot Latham is placing renewed emphasis on fraud awareness at a time when criminal activity continues to evolve across digital, telephone and in-person channels. The focus reflects a broader operating environment in which financial institutions must balance client service, security and trust while responding to increasingly sophisticated methods used to manipulate behaviour.
Fraud prevention has become an important part of financial resilience. Criminals often rely on emotions such as trust, fear, curiosity and urgency to persuade people to act before they have had time to assess a situation properly. The techniques may change, but the aim is usually consistent: to make someone share information, approve a payment, follow instructions or move money quickly. This makes awareness and decision-making under pressure central to reducing risk.
The recently published UK Finance Annual Fraud Report underlines the scale of the issue. In 2025, criminals stole £1.28 billion through payment fraud in the UK, representing a 4% increase on the previous year. Beyond the financial loss, fraud can create significant emotional and operational disruption for individuals, families and businesses. The figure also demonstrates why education, prevention and client communication remain relevant themes across the banking sector.
Modern scams are often designed to appear credible. Criminals may impersonate a bank, adviser, delivery company, government department or family member. They may create websites that look authentic, promote false investment opportunities, or use misleading advertising to create the impression of legitimacy. Images and AI-generated videos of public figures may also be misused to build confidence and encourage quick action. These developments increase the importance of verification, especially when a request is unexpected, urgent or unusual.
Arbuthnot Latham’s guidance is centred on a simple principle: pause before acting. A short delay can help prevent a poor decision made under pressure. Clients are encouraged to verify requests using trusted contact details rather than relying on links, numbers or instructions provided in a message or call. Speaking to a known contact or seeking a second opinion can create enough distance to identify warning signs and avoid transferring money or sharing sensitive information.
In public places, criminals may use distraction to steal wallets, cards or mobile phones, potentially gaining access to personal information or banking services. Keeping devices secured with strong passwords, protecting passcodes from view and acting quickly when a card, device or personal item is lost can reduce the potential impact of theft.
Small, consistent habits remain an important layer of protection. Strong passwords, updated software and secure handling of confidential information all help to limit exposure. Additional safeguards, such as device authentication and app-level passcodes for banking applications, can create further barriers. It is also sensible to avoid reusing passwords, think carefully before sharing personal details through online questionnaires and keep sensitive documents protected.
Fraudsters often rely on speed, pressure and isolation. Slowing the moment down can help restore control. When someone asks for a payment, or when a communication claiming to be from a bank feels uncertain, the safer response is to check before taking action. Contacting the bank through a trusted telephone number or speaking to a usual adviser can help distinguish genuine requests from fraudulent ones.
Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC (LON:ARBB), operating as Arbuthnot Latham, offers private and commercial banking products and services in the United Kingdom. Established in 1833, Arbuthnot Banking is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
