Revolut, Barclays, Monzo and other banks attracting the most fraud complaints in the UK

As alarming numbers of Brits fall victim to financial fraud, we reveal the banks involved in the most grievances during 2025. Is yours on the naughty list?

Digital bank Revolut tops the tables for the most fraud-related complaints escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

According to data obtained by consumer champion Which?, the provider has had 1,875 complaints referred to the FOS so far in 2025 for APP fraud alone.

This is where victims are tricked into sending money to a criminal, usually via bank transfer.

Alarmingly, the data found that, for every £1 million transferred into Revolut’s customers' accounts, £756 was lost to APP fraud.

Likewise, the FOS received 1,333 complaints about the bank for other types of fraud and scams, including stolen card details, hacked accounts or identity theft.

Nevertheless, it seems this problem isn’t unique to Revolut, as industry body UK Finance reported that more than £1 billion was lost to fraud across the industry in 2024.

So, who are the worst offenders?

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The 10 most complained-about banks for APP fraud

While Revolut may claim the dubious honour of coming top in the charts, it seems there is also cause for concern at other banks.

APP fraud complaints in 2025 (January–August 2025)

Source: Which?/FOS

It’s important to note that this is the second consecutive year that Revolut has received the highest number of complaints to the FOS.

Interestingly, digital bank Monzo stood out for its uphold rate – with the Ombudsman coming down on the side of complaints in a staggering 41% of cases.

This suggests many people were initially refused reimbursement when they should have been paid back.

Other fraud and scam complaints (January–August 2025)

And what about other incidents?

Source: Which?/FOS

Again, Revolut topped the table and also had the highest uphold rate, with more than a third of cases resolved in favour of its customers.

Why digital banks are under pressure

After being founded in 2015, Revolut and Monzo have both experienced rapid growth in recent years, gaining millions of customers.

However, with faster onboarding and instant payments, these app-based banks can be more exposed to scams than traditional providers.

In 2023, Revolut was named in nearly 10,000 reports to Action Fraud – more than any of the high-street banks.

What about the big banks?

It goes without saying that this isn’t just a problem for digital newcomers. Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds also recorded thousands of fraud disputes.

In fact, Barclays was the second most complained-about bank in terms of APP fraud, appearing in 1,161 disputes.

When it came to other scams, Barclays and HSBC took the third and fourth spots.

Why this matters

The sheer number of complaints highlights two things:

1. Fraud remains a growing threat: no bank is immune, and criminals are constantly adapting their tactics
2. Banks don’t always get it right: with uphold rates above 30% at several providers, many customers are initially turned down for reimbursement, only to be vindicated later

Although rules introduced in October 2024 mean APP scam victims should now be reimbursed within five business days, real-world cases demonstrate that the process can still be lengthy and stressful.

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Protect yourself against scams

While banks continue to strengthen their systems, customers can reduce their risk by taking simple steps:

• Pause before paying: always double-check payment requests, even if they look genuine
• Use official contact details: never trust numbers or links in texts or emails
• Turn on app security: biometric logins, payment alerts and spending controls all add extra protection
• Act fast if targeted: contact your bank immediately if you suspect fraud – acting quickly improves your chances of being reimbursed

How to complain to the FOS

If a financial firm has let you down, don’t simply put up with it and move on.

It’s important that you complain to your provider and get them to understand what has gone wrong.

If they don’t deal with it to your satisfaction, you can find more information about complaining to the Ombudsman on its website.

Bear in mind, your bank will have eight weeks after it receives your complaint to resolve the matter or to issue you with a ‘deadlock’ letter.

The good news is the FCA has the power to award as much as £430,000 in compensation when it rules in your favour – although this high-end limit clearly only applies in extreme cases.

Have your say

What’s your take? Have you ever been the victim of a scam?

If so, how did your bank respond?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.