by Dr Jennifer Collins, Associate Professor in Law, University of Bristol Law School
Fraud is no longer an outlier; it is now a systemic feature of digital markets. In this post, Dr Collins explains why legal theory must evolve to address industrialised fraud, drawing on her forthcoming article in the journal Legal Studies: ‘The Industrialisation of Fraud: Understanding Fraud in a Digital Era’.
Fraud is Everywhere
If you tuned into BBC Radio 4’s Scam Secrets, you will have heard former fraudsters explain how simple it can be to exploit human trust in a hyperconnected world. These accounts reveal a sobering truth: scams are no longer isolated acts of trickery but are part of global, highly organised networks. Fraud now accounts for around 37-41% of all crime in England and Wales, costing billions annually. In 2023 alone, reported fraud over £50,000 totalled £2.3 billion. These figures barely scratch the surface of a problem that is systemic, transnational and technologically supercharged. (more…)