{"id":5009,"date":"2026-03-29T10:36:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T10:36:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/2026\/03\/29\/invoice-fraud-costs-uk-construction-sector-millions-nca-warns\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T10:36:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T10:36:46","slug":"invoice-fraud-costs-uk-construction-sector-millions-nca-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/2026\/03\/29\/invoice-fraud-costs-uk-construction-sector-millions-nca-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"Invoice Fraud Costs UK Construction Sector Millions, NCA Warns"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The UK\u2019s National Crime Agency (NCA) has teamed up with the National Federation of Builders (NFB) to warn the construction sector of the growing risks of invoice fraud.<\/p>\n

The awareness campaign is aimed at accounts payable and finance personnel in the sector, as these are the individuals most commonly targeted by fake invoices.<\/p>\n

The NCA cited figures from Report Fraud revealing that these scams cost victims almost \u00a34m ($5.3m) in September 2025 alone, with 83 cases reported. Separate analysis from the fraud reporting center claimed that construction and manufacturing accounted for a quarter of invoice fraud in 2024\/25 \u2013 more than any other sectors.<\/p>\n

The NCA said that construction is particularly exposed to these scams because of the complex web of contractors, sub-contractors, consultants and other suppliers that work in the sector. Frequent high-value payments are usually invoiced via relatively insecure email channels.<\/p>\n

Read more on invoice fraud: National Crime Agency and NatWest Issue Joint Warning Over Invoice Fraud Threat<\/em><\/p>\n

Invoice fraud is a type of business email compromise (BEC) whereby fraudsters impersonate suppliers, changing their bank details on fake invoices in order to receive payment.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the scammers will hijack email accounts in order to gather intelligence on suppliers, what invoices look like and when they are typically issued. They can then maximize their chances of being paid.<\/p>\n

Sender domains are sometimes spoofed, or else supplier emails are hacked in order to send the fake invoices.<\/p>\n

Nick Sharp, deputy director of fraud at the NCA\u2019s National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), claimed invoice fraud has a huge impact on corporate victims.<\/p>\n

\u201cBusinesses can be destroyed by a loss of cashflow from a fraudulent payment, and families and livelihoods are at serious risk of collapse if fraudsters are successful. By providing the correct information to those in a position to thwart the fraudsters\u2019 efforts, we can stop the worst examples of invoice fraud in their tracks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is why the NCA is actively targeting and disrupting the criminal networks behind invoice fraud through investigations and intelligence sharing with international partners. However, prevention remains equally as important as disruptions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three Steps to Stop Invoice Fraud<\/h2>\n

The awareness campaign urged finance professionals in the construction sector to:<\/p>\n