Financial Ombudsman Service sees lowest complaint levels in two years
5 February 2026
New cases coming to us have returned to complaint volumes last seen in 2023/24.
Avoiding scams and fraud: help from the ombudsman
The Financial Ombudsman Service has published details on protecting your personal information and what to do if you have a complaint about a fraud or scam, and don’t think you’ve been treated fairly by a financial business.
Every year we see thousands of complaints involving fraud and scams. The circumstances are wide-ranging, from disputed card transactions and cash-machine withdrawals to online banking fraud and identity theft. The type of complaint is constantly evolving too, as fraudsters develop new – and increasingly sophisticated – methods, or seek to exploit events, like the current impact of Covid-19.
Some fraud and scams can be very convincing – for example, using fake websites that look identical to banks’ online systems, or text messages that to look like they’re from someone’s bank.
We’re sharing what we see in complaints about fraud and scams to help consumers protect their personal information. We also explain how we can help if consumers have a complaint and don’t think they’ve been treated fairly.
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