Acclaimed authors have tapped into the UK’s love of crime fiction to help expose how scams work in real life.
Crime writers Clare Mackintosh, Vaseem Khan and CL (Cally) Taylor have joined forces with UK Finance’s Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to create a trilogy of short stories packed with plot twists and red herrings.
As well as keeping readers guessing, the “read between the lies” stories are designed to help protect people from scams with gripping tales exposing the fraud traps that can be laid by criminals.
According to the campaign, more than £1.17 billion was recorded stolen through fraud in 2024, making it a common crime threat.
Launching for Take Five Week 2026, the stories are inspired by real fraud tactics and encourage readers to apply the same instincts detectives use in crime books, on television and podcasts to everyday situations.
The stories include cold callers, urgent payment requests and situations that may or may not be all they appear.
The authors worked with the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) to help them understand how crimes unfold in real life, and the emotional impact they have on victims.
Each story focuses on “common and devastating scams”. 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.
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Ms Mackintosh, who is a former Thames Valley Police inspector as well as a crime author, said: “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.”
Mr Khan 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.”
Ms Taylor 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.”
The short stories are being made available on the Take Five website at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/read-between-the-lies.
The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign urges people to:
Stop – Some scams are well hidden so take a moment to stop and think.
Challenge – Ask yourself, could it be fake? It is OK to refuse any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect – Contact your bank immediately if you think you have been scammed and tell the police.