Cifas, the UK’s national fraud prevention service, and cybersecurity company Trend Micro have announced a partnership to launch JustMe, a mobile application designed to help individuals protect themselves from identity fraud and online scams. The app brings together real-time identity verification and scam detection tools aimed at reducing the financial and emotional impact of fraud on UK consumers.
Fraud remains one of the most prevalent forms of crime in the UK, accounting for an estimated 44 percent of all recorded offences in England and Wales. According to government and industry data, the total annual cost to the UK economy is around £219 billion, with consumers losing approximately £10 billion this year to online scams alone. Cifas’s National Fraud Database reports that identity fraud accounts for 59 percent of recorded fraud cases and continues to pose a persistent threat.
The JustMe app allows users to monitor and verify applications made in their name, such as credit cards or loans, in real time. It also provides alerts when users may be the target of a scam and offers the ability to check suspicious text messages, emails, or social media content to determine whether they are legitimate. The system draws on Trend Micro’s cybersecurity technology and Cifas’s extensive data network, which enables organisations to share and access real-time fraud risk information.
Cifas Chief Executive Mike Haley said the partnership aims to give people greater control over their personal data and confidence in identifying fraudulent activity. He described the collaboration as an important step in advancing fraud prevention capabilities for individuals and businesses.
Frank Kuo, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Trend Micro, said the initiative reflects a move toward a more proactive approach in protecting consumers from digital threats. He said the partnership combines the strengths of both organisations to help reduce the harm caused by cybercriminals.
The collaboration also offers an opportunity for Cifas member organisations to engage in early access to the app and its underlying technology, with the goal of strengthening collective defences against identity fraud and online scams.
