Fraud warnings: fake AI-generated endorsements and calls in Amazon’s name
Report Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting service, has issued two warnings in a week. The first concerns investment fraudsters who use fake endorsements created with artificial intelligence (AI). The second warns about calls in which fraudsters pose as Amazon staff. We set out the figures and the official advice.
Fake investment endorsements: £24.3 million
According to the press release of 29 October from Report Fraud and the City of London Police, between January and August 2026 people lost £24.3 million to investment schemes that use fake AI-generated endorsements. The press release says that AI, including deepfakes, is used to create online adverts or fake news articles showing “endorsements” from well-known public figures or trusted financial institutions.
More than 1,300 reports were received during that period. Of these, 1,033, or almost 80%, were made by people aged 60 and over.
City of London Police Commander Ollie Shaw said: “Anyone considering making an investment should take their time and conduct thorough research.”
The press release stresses that such endorsements are fake.
Calls in Amazon’s name: £86,837 on 5-14 October
According to the Report Fraud alert of 30 October, between 5 and 14 October 110 reports were received about calls in which fraudsters posed as Amazon staff. Victims lost a total of £86,837. Of all the reports, 60% were made by people aged 50-79.
Report Fraud’s head of operations, Amanda Wolf, said: “The best defence is to pause.”
What you are advised to do
According to the Report Fraud alert:
- Hang up and call the organisation on a number you know yourself.
- To contact your bank, call 159.
- Report a suspicious call by text message to 7726, sending the word “Call” and the caller’s number.
- If you have been a victim in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to Report Fraud online (reportfraud.police.uk) or by phone on 0300 123 2040.
- In Scotland, fraud is reported to Police Scotland on 101.
Action Fraud is now called Report Fraud
According to a City of London Police press release, from 4 December 2025 the Action Fraud service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was replaced by Report Fraud. The police planned the full public launch of the service for January 2026. If you search online for Action Fraud, you now need to go to Report Fraud.
Also remember
On 28 October the government announced a new £100 energy payment for households in England (Household Energy Payment). The press release from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) warns that only your council should contact you about this payment.
These warnings are worth sharing with older parents and grandparents: in both cases most of the reports were made by older people.
Based on: the Report Fraud and City of London Police press release on AI investment fraud (29 October 2026, WiredGov copy); the Report Fraud alert on fraudsters posing as Amazon (30 October 2026, WiredGov copy of 2 November 2026); the City of London Police press release on the launch of Report Fraud (4 December 2025); the DESNZ press release “What the Autumn Budget 2026 means for your energy bills” (28 October 2026).
Republication must credit Londonozinios.com as the source.
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