Three of the UK’s most celebrated crime writers, Clare Mackintosh, Vaseem Khan and Cally (C.L.) Taylor, have joined forces with UK Finance’s Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to create a trilogy of original short stories designed to help the public spot scams.

Launching for Take Five Week 2026, Read Between the Lies uses the power of storytelling to bring fraud prevention to life - tapping into the nation’s love of crime fiction to expose how scams really work. Each story is inspired by real fraud tactics and encourages readers to ‘think like a detective’ and apply the same instincts they use in crime books, TV and podcasts to everyday situations.

From unexpected messages to urgent payment requests and deals that sound too good to be true, scams often follow particular patterns and apply pressure. However, the campaign aims to show that, just like in crime fiction, the clues are there and can be uncovered if you know what to look for.

Fraud is the UK’s most common crime

Fraud now accounts for over 40% of all reported crime in the UK, with an estimated 4.15 million incidents affecting individuals each year – making it the single biggest crime facing the public.

More than £1.17 billion was stolen through fraud in 2024. Despite its scale, many people still feel unsure how to identify and respond to scams – something this campaign aims to change by boosting confidence and capability.

From the page to in practice: three new stories inspired by real scams

At the heart of the campaign is a collection of specially commissioned short stories, each written by one of the authors and inspired by real fraud cases.

Each story centres on a different type of scam, from impersonation and romance scams to investment fraud and job scams, bringing to life the tactics real criminals use to manipulate their victims. With multiple red herrings woven throughout, the stories challenge readers to think like detectives and question where the real scam lies.

The authors worked closely with representatives from the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) to understand how these crimes unfold in real life, and the emotional impact they have on victims.

Each story focuses on common and devastating scams affecting people across the UK today. This includes romance scams, which resulted in £20.5 million in losses in the first half of 2025, investment scams, with £97.7 million stolen over the same period, and impersonation scams, with £45.1 million in losses.

The short stories are available to download or listen to for free from the Take Five website here: https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/read-between-the-lies/

Everyone can learn to “read between the lies”

The campaign highlights that while scams are becoming more sophisticated, they still rely on recognisable tactics.

Common warning signs include:
Unexpected contact or requests out of the blue
Pressure to act quickly or in secrecy
Requests for money or personal information
Offers that seem too good to be true

By pausing and questioning what they’re being told, people can uncover these clues and protect themselves.

The Take Five to Stop Fraud, the campaign reinforces three simple steps:
Stop – Every great detective takes time to consider the evidence. Some scams are well hidden so take a moment to stop and think.
Challenge – Read between the lies and ask yourself, could it be fake? It’s ok to refuse any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect – Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and tell the Police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.

I’ve seen the devastation caused by fraud, but I’ve also seen the impact crime prevention advice can have. Fraud is such a widespread issue, and just like in one of my thrillers, spotting it is often about noticing the small clues. This campaign is about helping people slow down, question what they’re being told, and feel more confident spotting when something isn’t right.

Vaseem Khan, author and Strategic Alliance Director at UCL’s Centre for Future Crime said:
“This campaign is close to my heart because I’ve experienced impersonation fraud, so I know just how unsettling it can be. I also understand the power of storytelling - and how we can use it to show ordinary people the tactics behind these scams so that they’re better equipped to spot the signs and protect themselves.”

C.L. Taylor, author, said:
“I was really drawn to this campaign because of the power of crime fiction and how much people love it. It’s a genre that naturally encourages readers to question what’s happening and look for clues. Using that instinct to help people understand fraud feels like a really effective way to make the advice stick and help people feel more confident spotting scams.”

Jess Cook, spokesperson for Take Five to Stop Fraud said:
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, using increasingly sophisticated methods to catch people off guard and exploit trust. By partnering with crime writers, we’re bringing these tactics to life in a way that feels relatable and engaging – helping people recognise the warning signs and reminding them that by stopping, challenging and protecting, they can help prevent fraud.”

Report and protect

Fraud is a crime and reporting it is a crucial step in stopping it.

Anyone who thinks they may have been scammed should contact their bank immediately and report it to Report Fraud. Acting quickly can help protect your money and prevent others from falling victim.

To find out more about the Take Five to Stop Fraud’s Read Between the Lies campaign and how to protect yourself from fraud, visit: https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/read-between-the-lies