South West UK Cyber Crime Statistics

South West UK Cyber Crime Key Insights

• Consumer fraud dominates volume but not financial impact, highlighting the difference between frequency and cost – At 39% of reports (7k), consumer fraud is the most common crime type, yet it accounts for only 18.8% of losses (£17.3m). With an average loss of £2.5k per incident, this shows high-frequency, lower-value attacks driving activity but not overall financial damage.
• Investment fraud drives the majority of financial loss despite low volume, revealing targeted high-value attacks – With just 7.6% of reports (1.4k), investment fraud generates 64.9% of total losses (£59.7m), with an average loss of £43.8k per case. This demonstrates that a small number of successful attacks produce the majority of financial impact.
• Cyber dependent crime is a major entry point but not a direct source of financial loss – Representing 24% of reports (4.3k), cyber dependent crime is one of the most common attack types, yet contributes only 0.2% of losses (£145.7k), with an average loss of just £34. This reinforces its role as an access mechanism rather than a monetisation strategy.
• Banking fraud sits between volume and value, offering efficient financial extraction – At 10.2% of reports (1.8k) and 9% of losses (£8.3m), banking fraud shows a strong balance between frequency and financial return. With an average loss of £4.5k per incident, it represents a reliable and efficient method of monetisation for attackers.
• Advance fee fraud remains a consistent, scalable revenue stream despite lower individual returns – Accounting for 18.8% of reports (3.4k) and 6.2% of losses (£5.7m), advance fee scams generate relatively low returns per incident (£1.7k) but remain effective due to volume. Their persistence highlights how low-complexity, high-scale tactics continue to deliver steady financial gain.

Individuals

• Consumer fraud dominates because individuals are the easiest entry point for large-scale attacks – At 39% of reports (6.7k), consumer fraud is consistently the largest category. Across the South West, criminals use marketplaces, phishing, and social platforms to reach individuals at scale, reflecting coordinated, high-volume activity seen in 2025. Volume reflects accessibility, not vulnerability.
• Cyber dependent crime underpins modern attacks by enabling access rather than delivering the outcome – Representing 24% of reports (4.2k), cyber dependent offences show that compromised devices and accounts are a key starting point. In line with regional operations, where digital infrastructure and mobile devices were central, these attacks often act as the gateway to more financially damaging fraud.
• Investment fraud dominates losses because criminals are prioritising high-value individuals – Accounting for 66.6% of total losses (£53.9m), investment scams generate the vast majority of financial damage despite lower report volumes. This reflects a clear shift towards fewer, more deliberate attacks designed to extract maximum financial return.
• Cyber crime is concentrated across the working-age population because digital exposure peaks here – Ages 30–69 consistently account for the highest share of reports, driven by work, finance, and daily digital activity. In the South West, where digital reliance is embedded across both personal and professional life, exposure is highest among those most active online.
• Financial impact increases significantly with age, reflecting deliberate targeting of wealth – The 60–69 group accounts for 44% of losses (£35.6m), with average losses exceeding £13k per incident. While younger individuals experience more frequent attacks, older individuals are more likely to suffer substantial financial damage, aligning with targeted, outcome-driven strategies seen in 2025.

Organisations

• Banking fraud dominates because organisations provide direct access to funds – At 49.1% of reports (466), banking fraud accounts for nearly half of all organisational incidents. Across the South West, where 2025 activity showed coordinated, financially motivated crime, attackers are prioritising access to business accounts and payment systems for immediate return.
• Cyber dependent crime underpins organisational attacks by enabling system and account access – Representing 15.1% of reports (143), cyber dependent offences highlight how technical compromise remains a key entry point. In line with regional operations where digital infrastructure and communication were central, these attacks often precede financial exploitation.
• Investment fraud dominates losses because organisations are targeted for high-value transactions – Accounting for 52.5% of total losses (£5.8m), investment scams generate the largest financial impact despite low volume. This reflects a shift towards deliberate, high-value targeting, where fewer attacks are designed to extract significantly larger sums.
• Limited companies account for the majority of incidents because they dominate the regional economy – At 73.1% of reports (670) and 61.5% of losses (£6.8m), limited companies represent both the highest exposure and financial impact. This reflects the SME-heavy structure of the South West, where more businesses naturally create more opportunities for attack.
• Losses are highly concentrated in specific business structures, reflecting targeted and uneven impact – LLPs show an average loss of £181.8k per incident, while public sector cases average £685.4k. Although less frequent, these incidents demonstrate how certain structures and access models can lead to disproportionately high financial consequences when targeted.

South West UK Cyber Crime Statistics Breakdown

Crime Types

By report volume

Crime Type	Reports	%
Advance Fee	3.4k	18.8%
Banking	1.8k	10.2%
Consumer	7k	39.0%
Corporate	79	0.4%
Cyber Dependent	4.3k	24.0%
Investment	1.4k	7.6%
Public Sector	2	0.0%

Insights for Report Volume

• Consumer fraud dominates because attacks are designed for scale across a dispersed region – At 39.0% of reports (7k), consumer crime is the largest category. Across the South West, where populations are spread but digitally connected, criminals use email, marketplaces, and social platforms to reach large volumes efficiently. This reflects industrialised fraud, not isolated incidents.
• Cyber dependent crime highlights how access is the foundation of modern attacks – Representing 24.0% of reports (4.3k), cyber dependent offences show that hacking, malware, and account compromise remain a major threat. In 2025, regional operations uncovered heavy reliance on mobile devices and digital coordination, reinforcing that technical access is often the starting point for wider criminal activity.
• Advance fee fraud persists because low-effort tactics scale effectively online – At 18.8% of reports (3.4k), advance fee scams continue to perform. Delivered through messaging platforms and email, these attacks exploit trust and urgency at scale. Despite being one of the oldest fraud types, its effectiveness has been amplified by modern digital distribution.
• Banking and investment fraud are lower in volume but more deliberate in execution – Banking (10.2%, 1.8k) and investment fraud (7.6%, 1.4k) account for a smaller share of reports but are closely aligned with financial targeting. In line with 2025 regional trends, organised groups are prioritising outcomes over volume, focusing on transactions and opportunities with higher monetary return.
• Low corporate and public sector reporting masks the true level of organisational risk – Corporate (0.4%) and Public Sector (0%) reports appear minimal. However, given the scale of coordinated criminal activity identified across the South West in 2025, this likely reflects differences in reporting pathways rather than reduced exposure. Organisational incidents tend to be higher impact, even if less frequently recorded.

By financial losses

Crime Type	Losses	%	Loss/Report
Advance Fee	£5.7m	6.2%	£1.7k
Banking	£8.3m	9.0%	£4.5k
Consumer	£17.3m	18.8%	£2.5k
Corporate	£129.8k	0.1%	£1.6k
Cyber Dependent	£145.7k	0.2%	£34
Investment	£59.7m	64.9%	£43.8k
Public Sector	£685.4k	0.7%	£342.7k

Insights for Financial Losses

• Investment fraud dominates financial losses because organised crime is prioritising high-value outcomes – At 64.9% of total losses (£59.7m), investment scams account for nearly two-thirds of all financial damage. This aligns with 2025 regional activity, where coordinated networks are not just operating at scale, but targeting opportunities with the highest return. Lower volume, significantly higher impact.
• Consumer fraud combines high volume with meaningful financial damage – Representing 18.8% of losses (£17.3m), consumer fraud remains both widespread and costly. While individual losses are lower (£2.5k per report), the sheer volume of incidents drives substantial cumulative impact, reflecting large-scale digital targeting across the region.
• Banking fraud reflects direct access to funds and faster monetisation – At 9% of losses (£8.3m), banking fraud sits behind consumer crime in volume but is more efficient per incident (£4.5k per report). In a landscape where criminals use compromised accounts and real-time transactions, speed and access make banking fraud a consistently effective tactic.
• Advance fee fraud persists as a reliable, lower-yield revenue stream – Accounting for 6.2% of losses (£5.7m), advance fee scams generate smaller returns per case (£1.7k) but remain viable due to scale. Delivered through email and messaging platforms, these attacks continue to exploit urgency and trust, requiring minimal technical sophistication.
• Public sector and corporate losses are low in volume but high in potential impact – Public sector (£685.4k, 0.7%) and corporate (£129.8k, 0.1%) losses appear limited. However, the £342.7k average loss per public sector incident highlights how damaging single events can be. In the context of organised activity seen across the South West in 2025, these figures likely underrepresent true exposure.

South West UK Cyber Crime Statistics for Individuals

Crime Types

By report volume

Crime Type	Reports	%
Advance Fee	3.4k	19.8%
Banking	1.4k	8.0%
Consumer	6.7k	39.4%
Corporate	72	0.4%
Cyber Dependent	4.2k	24.5%
Investment	1.3k	7.9%
Public Sector	1	0.0%

Insights for Individual Report Volume

• Consumer fraud dominates because individuals are the easiest entry point for large-scale attacks – At 39.4% of reports (6.7k), consumer fraud remains the most common crime affecting individuals. Across the South West, where digital usage is widespread but security maturity varies, criminals use marketplaces, phishing, and social platforms to target people directly. This reflects scalable, opportunistic activity rather than targeted attacks.
• Cyber dependent crime shows that personal devices are a key access route for wider criminal activity – Representing 24.5% of reports (4.2k), cyber dependent offences highlight how compromised devices and accounts underpin modern crime. In 2025, regional operations revealed heavy reliance on mobile phones and digital communication, reinforcing that individual compromise often feeds into broader organised networks.
• Advance fee fraud thrives because it exploits trust at an individual level – At 19.8% of reports (3.4k), advance fee scams remain highly effective. Delivered through email, text, and messaging apps, these attacks rely on urgency and emotional manipulation rather than technical sophistication. Their persistence reflects how easily trust can be exploited at scale.
• Banking and investment fraud target individuals at key financial moments – Banking (8%, 1.4k) and investment fraud (7.9%, 1.3k) are lower in volume but more deliberate. These attacks often occur when individuals are making payments or seeking financial returns, aligning with organised activity seen across the South West where criminals prioritise access to funds over volume alone.
• Low corporate and public sector reporting reinforces that this dataset is driven by individual exposure – Corporate (0.4%) and Public Sector (0%) incidents are minimal within this view, highlighting that the majority of reported cyber crime affects individuals directly. However, given the coordinated and digital nature of crime identified in 2025, compromised individuals can still act as entry points into wider organisational attacks.

By financial losses

Crime Type	Losses	%	Loss/Report
Advance Fee	£5.7m	7.0%	£1.7k
Banking	£5.3m	6.6%	£3.9k
Consumer	£15.8m	19.5%	£2.3k
Corporate	£71.4k	0.1%	£992
Cyber Dependent	£140.7k	0.2%	£34
Investment	£53.9m	66.6%	£40.0k
Public Sector	£0	0.0%	£0

Insights for Individual Financial Losses

• Investment fraud dominates losses because individuals are being targeted for high-value returns – At 66.6% of total losses (£53.9m), investment scams account for the vast majority of financial damage among individuals. This aligns with 2025 activity across the South West, where organised networks are prioritising fewer, higher-value opportunities rather than mass low-value attacks. Lower volume, significantly higher reward.
• Consumer fraud combines scale with cumulative financial impact – Representing 19.5% of losses (£15.8m), consumer fraud continues to generate substantial damage. While the average loss per report (£2.3k) is relatively moderate, the sheer volume of incidents drives overall losses, reflecting widespread digital exposure across everyday transactions.
• Banking fraud reflects efficient monetisation of compromised accounts – At 6.6% of losses (£5.3m), banking fraud delivers higher returns per incident (£3.9k) than consumer scams. With access to accounts and real-time payment systems, attackers can extract funds quickly, aligning with the fast-moving, digitally coordinated activity seen across the region in 2025.
• Advance fee fraud persists as a scalable, low-complexity income stream – Accounting for 7% of losses (£5.7m), advance fee scams generate smaller returns per case (£1.7k) but remain effective due to volume. These attacks rely on trust, urgency, and emotional manipulation rather than technical compromise, making them easy to deploy at scale.
• Cyber dependent crime highlights that technical compromise enables rather than drives financial loss – Despite representing 0.2% of losses (£140.7k), cyber dependent offences have a minimal direct financial impact (£34 per report). However, in the context of 2025 regional activity, these attacks are often the entry point, enabling access that leads to higher-value fraud such as banking or investment scams.

Age Demographics

By report volume

Age	Reports	%
Age (0-9)	18	0.1%
Age (10-19)	517	3.0%
Age (20-29)	2.3k	13.5%
Age (30-39)	2.9k	16.8%
Age (40-49)	2.7k	15.8%
Age (50-59)	2.7k	16.1%
Age (60-69)	2.6k	15.4%
Age (70-79)	2.1k	12.6%
Age (80-89)	1k	6.0%
Age (90-99)	104	0.6%
Age (100+)	2	0.0%

Insights for Report Volume via Age Demographics

• Cyber crime is concentrated across the working-age population because digital exposure peaks here – The 30–39 age group leads at 16.8% (2.9k), closely followed by 50–59 (16.1%, 2.7k), 40–49 (15.8%, 2.7k), and 60–69 (15.4%, 2.6k). Across the South West, where work, finance, and communication are heavily digital, exposure is highest among those actively managing careers, finances, and daily transactions. Volume reflects activity, not vulnerability.
• Younger adults face significant exposure due to high digital engagement – At 13.5% of reports (2.3k), the 20–29 group represents a substantial share of incidents. High usage of online platforms, marketplaces, and mobile-first services increases interaction with potential threats, aligning with the digitally enabled, high-volume tactics seen across the region in 2025.
• Incidents remain high into later working life, reflecting continued financial and digital responsibility – Combined, ages 40–69 account for a significant proportion of reports. This reinforces that cyber crime is not limited to younger demographics but follows individuals through peak earning and decision-making years, where financial activity and digital reliance remain high.
• Older age groups show declining volume but not reduced relevance – Reports fall to 12.6% (2.1k) for ages 70–79 and 6.0% (1.0k) for ages 80–89. While interaction with digital platforms may reduce, these groups remain targeted, particularly through scams that exploit trust and familiarity rather than technical complexity.
• Minimal reporting among the youngest and oldest groups reflects exposure, not immunity – Ages 0–9 (0.1%) and 100+ (0%) show negligible reporting. However, this is driven by limited independent digital activity rather than reduced risk. In the context of organised, digitally coordinated crime seen in the South West in 2025, exposure is determined by behaviour and access, not age alone.

By financial losses

Age	Losses	%	Loss/Report
Age (0-9)	£204.4k	0.3%	£11.4k
Age (10-19)	£424.4k	0.5%	£821
Age (20-29)	£3.6m	4.4%	£1.6k
Age (30-39)	£6.1m	7.5%	£2.1k
Age (40-49)	£6.8m	8.4%	£2.5k
Age (50-59)	£10.6m	13.1%	£3.9k
Age (60-69)	£35.6m	44.0%	£13.6k
Age (70-79)	£10.7m	13.2%	£5k
Age (80-89)	£4.7m	5.8%	£4.6k
Age (90-99)	£1.5m	1.9%	£14.4k
Age (100+)	£150	0.0%	£75

Insights for Financial Losses via Age Demographics

• Financial losses are heavily concentrated among older individuals because they hold greater financial value – The 60–69 age group accounts for 44.0% of total losses (£35.6m), by far the largest share. In the South West, where organised crime in 2025 showed clear coordination and targeting, this reflects a deliberate focus on individuals with accumulated wealth, savings, and access to larger financial transactions.
• Loss per incident increases significantly with age, reflecting more successful high-value targeting – Average losses rise from £2.1k (30–39) and £2.5k (40–49) to £13.6k for 60–69 and £14.4k for 90–99. This pattern shows that while younger groups experience frequent attacks, older individuals are more likely to suffer financially significant outcomes, aligning with targeted, outcome-driven criminal strategies.
• Working-age groups experience steady financial impact due to volume and ongoing exposure – Ages 30–59 collectively represent a substantial share of losses, including £10.6m (50–59) and £6.8m (40–49). These groups combine high digital activity with financial responsibility, making them consistently exposed to both high-volume and opportunistic attacks across the region.
• Younger individuals show lower financial impact despite notable exposure – While ages 20–29 account for 13.5% of reports, they represent only 4.4% of losses (£3.6m), with an average loss of £1.6k. This suggests that although exposure is high, financial outcomes are more limited, reflecting smaller available funds and lower-value targets.
• Minimal losses in the youngest and oldest extremes reflect access rather than risk – Ages 0–9 (0.3%) and 100+ (0%) show negligible financial losses. However, this is driven by limited independent financial control rather than reduced targeting. In the context of coordinated digital crime seen across the South West in 2025, attackers prioritise where financial value and access are highest.

South West UK Cyber Crime Statistics for Organisations

Crime Types

By report volume

Crime Type	Reports	%
Advance Fee	3	0.3%
Banking	466	49.1%
Consumer	314	33.1%
Corporate	7	0.7%
Cyber Dependent	143	15.1%
Investment	15	1.6%
Public Sector	1	0.1%

Insights for Organisational Report Volume

• Banking fraud dominates organisational incidents because businesses provide direct access to funds – At 49.1% of reports (466), banking fraud accounts for nearly half of all organisational incidents. In the South West, where 2025 operations revealed coordinated and financially motivated crime, attackers are clearly prioritising routes that enable immediate access to business accounts and payment systems.
• Consumer fraud remains significant as businesses interact with external platforms and transactions – Representing 33.1% of reports (314), consumer-related fraud reflects how organisations are exposed through marketplaces, suppliers, and customer-facing transactions. As businesses operate across digital platforms, they inherit many of the same risks seen at an individual level, but at greater scale.
• Cyber dependent crime highlights the role of technical compromise in enabling business attacks – At 15.1% of reports (143), cyber dependent offences demonstrate that hacking, malware, and account compromise remain a key entry point. In line with 2025 regional findings, where digital tools and communication were central to organised crime, technical access is often the first step before financial exploitation.
• Investment, corporate, and advance fee fraud are lower in volume but reflect targeted intent – Investment (1.6%, 15), corporate (0.7%, 7), and advance fee fraud (0.3%, 3) represent a small share of incidents. However, these attacks are typically more deliberate, often involving planning, impersonation, or manipulation, rather than opportunistic volume-driven tactics.
• Minimal public sector reporting masks broader organisational exposure across the region – Public sector incidents account for just 0.1% (1 report), but this should not be interpreted as low risk. Given the scale of coordinated criminal activity identified across the South West in 2025, reporting pathways, internal handling, and incident classification likely influence visibility more than actual exposure.

By financial losses

Crime Type	Losses	%	Loss/Report
Advance Fee	£1.5k	0.0%	£500
Banking	£3m	27.1%	£6.4k
Consumer	£1.5m	13.6%	£4.8k
Corporate	£58.4k	0.5%	£8.3k
Cyber Dependent	£5k	0.0%	£35
Investment	£5.8m	52.5%	£386.7k
Public Sector	£685.4k	6.2%	£685.4k

Insights for Organisational Financial Losses

• Investment fraud dominates organisational losses because attackers prioritise high-value opportunities – At 52.5% of total losses (£5.8m), investment scams account for the majority of financial damage to organisations. In line with 2025 activity across the South West, this reflects a shift towards fewer, more deliberate attacks designed to extract maximum value rather than relying on volume.
• Banking fraud remains a major financial threat due to direct access to business accounts – Representing 27.1% of losses (£3.0m), banking fraud is the second largest contributor. With an average loss of £6.4k per incident, these attacks are efficient and fast-moving, often exploiting compromised credentials or payment processes to extract funds quickly.
• Consumer-related fraud highlights how business transactions create exposure – At 13.6% of losses (£1.5m), consumer fraud reflects risks tied to suppliers, customers, and online platforms. As organisations operate digitally across multiple touchpoints, they inherit the same high-volume threats seen at an individual level, but with greater financial consequences.
• Public sector incidents are rare but disproportionately severe when they occur – Although only 6.2% of losses (£685.4k), the average loss per incident (£685.4k) is exceptionally high. This suggests that while incidents are infrequent, they can be operationally and financially significant, particularly in environments with critical systems and data.
• Cyber dependent and advance fee fraud show minimal direct loss but remain critical enablers – Cyber dependent (£5k, 0%) and advance fee (£1.5k, 0%) losses appear negligible in isolation. However, as seen in 2025 regional activity, these attacks often act as entry points, enabling access, gathering information, or setting the stage for higher-value fraud such as banking or investment scams.

Business Types

By report volume

Business Type	Reports	%
Limited	670	73.1%
PLC	27	2.9%
Sole	50	5.5%
Charity	49	5.3%
Partnership	23	2.5%
LLP	11	1.2%
Other	87	9.5%

Insights for Organisational Report Volume via Business Types

• Limited companies dominate reports because they represent the core of the regional business landscape – At 73.1% of reports (670), limited companies account for the vast majority of incidents. Across the South West, where SMEs form the backbone of the economy, this reflects exposure driven by volume and prevalence rather than increased vulnerability. More businesses simply means more opportunities for attack.
• “Other” and smaller business types highlight that cyber risk extends beyond traditional company structures – The “Other” category accounts for 9.5% (87 reports), while sole traders (5.5%, 50) and charities (5.3%, 49) also show notable exposure. This reinforces that cyber crime is not limited to structured corporate environments but affects any organisation operating digitally.
• Sole traders and charities remain exposed due to limited internal security resources – With 5.5% and 5.3% of reports respectively, these groups often lack dedicated IT or cyber security support. In a region where organised crime is increasingly coordinated and digitally enabled, lower resource levels can make these organisations easier entry points.
• PLCs and larger entities show lower report volumes but not necessarily lower risk – PLCs account for just 2.9% of reports (27), which reflects their smaller presence in the regional economy rather than reduced exposure. Larger organisations often have more mature security and reporting structures, meaning incidents may be managed differently or less frequently reported in this dataset.
• Partnerships and LLPs represent a small share but may face disproportionate impact when targeted – Partnerships (2.5%, 23) and LLPs (1.2%, 11) appear less frequently, but their structure often involves shared financial responsibility and complex access arrangements. In the context of coordinated cyber activity seen across the South West in 2025, this can create additional risk when incidents occur.

By financial losses

Business Type	Losses	%	Loss/Report
Limited	£6.8m	61.5%	£10.1k
PLC	£87.7k	0.8%	£3.2k
Sole	£81.3k	0.7%	£1.6k
Charity	£335.8k	3.0%	£6.9k
Partnership	£252.3k	2.3%	£11k
LLP	£2m	18.1%	£181.8k
Other	£1.1m	10.0%	£12.6k

Insights for Organisational Financial Losses via Business Types

• Limited companies dominate total losses because they represent both volume and value – At 61.5% of total losses (£6.8m), limited companies account for the majority of financial impact. As the most common business structure in the South West, SMEs are both highly exposed and financially active, making them the primary target for organised, digitally enabled crime seen across the region in 2025.
• LLPs stand out for exceptionally high losses per incident, indicating targeted attacks – Although only 18.1% of losses (£2m), LLPs show an average loss of £181.8k per report. This suggests fewer but highly deliberate attacks, often involving financial manipulation or access to larger pooled resources. In a landscape of coordinated crime, this reflects precision over volume.
• “Other” business types carry notable financial impact due to varied structures and controls – Representing 10% of losses (£1.1m), this category highlights how less defined or mixed business structures can still carry significant exposure. Variability in systems, controls, and oversight can create opportunities for exploitation.
• Partnerships and charities face moderate losses but meaningful risk per incident – Partnerships (£252.3k, 2.3%) and charities (£335.8k, 3%) show mid-level financial impact, with average losses of £11k and £6.9k respectively. These organisations often balance financial responsibility with limited resources, creating a combination of exposure and constraint.
• PLCs and sole traders show lower financial impact but remain part of the risk landscape – PLCs (£87.7k, 0.8%) and sole traders (£81.3k, 0.7%) account for smaller shares of total loss, reflecting both their lower presence in the region and, in some cases, more contained financial exposure. However, lower totals do not eliminate risk, particularly where controls or resources are limited.

About The Data - South West UK Cyber Crime Statistics

Based on a rolling 12 months of data from Report Fraud.

Data is provided by the following police forces: Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Wilshire.

The South West UK cyber crime statistics data is extracted from the NFIB Fraud and Cyber Crime dashboard between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025.

Only 'cyber-enabled' fraud and cyber crime offences amounting to a crime under the Home Office Crime Recording rules are included.

Cyber-enabled crimes are traditional crimes, which can be increased in their scale or reach by use of computers, computer networks or other forms of IT.

Information reports and crimes reported directly from partner agencies and industry are not included at this time and will account for differences to Office for National Statistics figures for fraud offences in the same period.

For more information relating to different types of fraud and cyber crime please see the A-Z of fraud section on the Report Fraud website.

Limitations

South West UK cyber crime statistics data is based on victim selection during the reporting process and this has not been verified.

Losses are based on loss amounts as reported in Report Fraud recorded crimes and these have not been verified. Where possible, efforts have been made to review losses reported in excess of £500k but further investigation may be required to determine if loss amounts are a true reflection of the financial impact of the reported crime.

Extreme outliers have been removed to limit data skew.

Crime Types

See crime type definitions in the main cyber crime stats article.

Regional Breakdown

Below is a list of regions that our cyber crime research is broken down into:

• London
• South East
• South West
• North West
• North East
• East
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire & Humber
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

Further Reading

For more information about South West UK cyber crime statistics, take a look at the following sources:

• Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 - UK Gov
• National Cyber Security Centre
• Office for National Statistics