Philip Plambeck, Managing Director UK at Computop, warns that UK retailers face significant financial and reputational risk if they do not upgrade their fraud prevention. The latest UK Finance 2025 Annual Fraud Report shows Remote Purchase Fraud rising sharply, signalling a shift toward more scalable, anonymous cyber-attacks.
Remote Purchase Fraud now accounts for over £399 million in unauthorised card losses, as criminals exploit stolen card details, phishing tactics, and compromised digital wallets to evade traditional defences. Philip Plambeck stresses that retailers must become “frontline defenders” by embracing advanced AI-based tools:
“Retailers are now frontline defenders in the UK’s evolving fraud landscape and it has become imperative that they understand the innovations happening in retail fraud prevention.”
Why AI Is Essential for Modern Fraud Prevention
- Real-time anomaly detection: AI systems analyse behavioural patterns, device IDs, geolocation, and biometrics to flag suspicious transactions within milliseconds.
- Reduced false positives: Machine learning models distinguish genuine customers from fraudsters, preserving seamless shopping experiences.
- Cross-channel coverage: AI adapts to protect online, mobile, and in-store channels under a unified framework.
- Dynamic adaptability: As new threats—such as Agentic AI, which can autonomously orchestrate large-scale attacks—emerge, AI continuously retrains to counter them.
Computop advises that a machine-speed response is the only defence against machine-speed crime. Legacy rule-based systems can no longer keep pace with cyber-criminal innovation, making proactive, AI-driven detection a necessity for retailers committed to safeguarding their brands and customers.
