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UK fraud review calls for judge training on crypto laundering, AI scams

The Home Office-backed report warns fraud could make up half of crime in England and Wales and says more than half of investment scams involve crypto assets.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Regulation

A UK government-backed review urges training for judges, including magistrates, as the courts are expected to see more cases involving AI-enabled fraud and money laundering using cryptocurrencies, Decrypt reports. The report, published by the Home Office as part of the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences chaired by Jonathan Fisher KC, warns that fraud may soon represent half of all crime in England and Wales. It also cites estimates that more than half of investment scams now involve crypto assets, pointing to how quickly digital tools are changing the scale and complexity of cases. To illustrate the trend, the review highlights the case of convicted fraudster Qian Zhimin, which involved the UK's largest-ever crypto seizure of more than 61,000 BTC. It argues that tools once limited to sophisticated criminals are now widely accessible, which could leave non-specialist courts facing cases they are not equipped to handle. The review says existing training for long and complex fraud trials is optional through the Judicial College, and it recommends evaluating whether that course should be updated or replaced with a dedicated module, and whether training should be mandatory for judges most likely to preside over complex fraud cases.

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