UK Must Treat Fraud, Economic, and Cyber Crime with the Same Urgency as Street Crime
11 September 2025
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Last week, a powerful moment unfolded in the heart of British democracy — the launch of the V11 Foundation at Parliament. Eleven former Premier League footballers, known collectively as the V11, stood together not to celebrate sporting victories, but to demand justice — and to call for meaningful reform in the laws that currently leave victims of financial wrongdoing in limbo. Who Are the V11? The V11 Foundation represents a group of former professional footballers who, having earned their livelihoods on the pitch, fell victim to complex investment schemes marketed as secure and beneficial. These schemes — marketed in the 1990s and 2000s — eventually collapsed, leaving the players facing enormous tax penalties from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) despite being recognised as victims of fraud by law enforcement. Instead of being protected, many have been left grappling with mounting liabilities, bankruptcies, lost assets, and ongoing stress. Their experience has drawn comparisons to other high-profile scandals where ordinary people were failed by the system, highlighting deep structural issues in how fraud victims are treated by law and enforcement. A Letter to the Prime Minister Following the Parliament launch, the V11 Foundation sent a heartfelt letter to the Prime Minister, urging urgent action on their behalf. In that letter, they appealed for government intervention to address the unjust consequences they continue to face — even after official recognition as victims. The crux of their appeal centres on one key point: If someone is officially recognised as a victim of criminal wrongdoing, they should not continue to be pursued for penalties directly resulting from that wrongdoing. Their letter calls on the Prime Minister to ensure fairness in how tax liabilities are assessed and enforced when fraud is at the core of the loss — and to reconsider how the law currently treats such cases. Launching a Foundation — But Also a Movement The V11 Foundation isn’t just a support group for the individuals affected; it’s a movement aimed at championing change. At Parliament, the former players shared powerful testimony about how their financial futures were derailed by what they described as manipulative advisers and opaque schemes. Their aim is clear: to ensure that no other athlete, or any individual, is left unprotected and left alone to fight an uphill battle when they fall victim to financial fraud. IFC’s Commitment to Working Together for Reform The Investment Fraud Committee — welcomes the formation of the V11 Foundation and stands in solidarity with its mission. We believe: Fair treatment under the law should include recognition of victim status in all related legal, tax and financial consequences. Regulatory reform is needed to close gaps that allow mis-selling and unregulated investment schemes to flourish. Stronger protections and clearer avenues for redress must be established for victims of financial wrongdoing. Our campaign will focus on collaborating with the V11 Foundation to lobby Parliament, engage with policymakers, and raise public awareness of the systemic issues highlighted by the V11’s story. We see their struggle not only as a matter of individual justice, but as a broader call for reform — one that intersects with financial regulation, taxpayer fairness, criminal justice, and the rights of victims. A Call to Action The launch of the V11 Foundation and the subsequent appeal to the Prime Minister mark a pivotal moment in the fight for fairness and accountability. The IFC is proud to work alongside the V11 in campaigning for much-needed reform. Together, we will continue to: Amplify the voices of victims Engage lawmakers on statutory changes Promote financial protections for sportspeople and the wider public Justice doesn’t just mean recognition — it means changing the system so fewer people have to suffer the same fate.
What’s happening? Many ordinary people across the UK have lost their life savings, pensions, or investments after being misled, mis-sold to, or defrauded. Now, on top of those losses, many are facing large and often life-changing tax bills from HMRC — even though they were the victims, not the perpetrators. These include: 1. People caught in failed or fraudulent pension schemes 2. People misled into investment tax structures they did not understand 3. Victims formally classified as victims of crime by the police 4. Many others pushed into schemes by unregulated or poorly regulated advisers For many, these tax bills arrive years — sometimes more than a decade — after the events, and with no special protection, no write-offs, and almost no recognition of their victim status. Why are people being taxed if they were victims? Under current UK tax rules, even if someone is tricked into a scheme later found to be fraudulent or abusive, HMRC can still treat the payments they received as taxable — even if the person never benefited, lost money, and was misled throughout. This is because there is no framework or policy in place currently recognising victim status in UK tax matters. That means victims can be told: They owe tens of thousands of pounds, or even more They have 30 days to pay or enter long-term repayment plans Interest and penalties may apply for over a decade Bankruptcy could follow if they cannot pay For many people already ruined by fraud, this is devastating. What changed with the Loan Charge — and why it matters now In 2025, the Government accepted the Independent Loan Charge Review, which admitted that: HMRC’s approach had caused “significant and unacceptable harm” Many people were mis-sold schemes Enforcing the full tax was unfair and disproportionate As a result, the Government announced: 50%+ reductions in many Loan Charge tax bills Around 30% will have their tax completely written off Penalties and interest removed An extra £5,000 written off for everyone affected. This was a major shift: For the first time, the UK accepted that legally-due tax can be reduced or written off when people were misled or harmed. We believe the same principle must now be applied to fraud victims. Why this is urgent? Many fraud victims are now receiving tax bills: Ark pension victims are getting assessments with 30 days to pay Some still cannot get final tax calculations even after 15 years Others face bankruptcy or homelessness. The “V11” footballers — recognised by police as victims of crime — still face multi-million pound tax bills on top of huge financial losses. These people did nothing wrong. They acted in good faith. They were badly let down by advisers, weak regulation, and a system that did not protect them. How other countries protect victims: Other nations do better: Australia After a national investigation, the Australian Tax Office created a Vulnerability Framework to protect people harmed by financial abuse. This allows: - Tax debts to be reduced, deferred or written off - Special teams trained to identify and support victims • A system that avoids adding harm to people already harmed United States After the Bernie Madoff scandal, the US introduced special tax reliefs for ponzi fraud victims. The US also have created: - A statutory Taxpayer Bill of Rights • An independent Taxpayer Advocate Service These ensure the tax system does not punish victims. The UK currently has none of these protections. What we are calling for: We want to ensure victims of fraud are treated fairly, humanely, and consistently. We are calling for: 1. An Independent Review A full review of how HMRC treats investment and pension fraud victims. 2. Immediate protection from harsh enforcement Stopping bankruptcies, home repossessions and unaffordable tax demands for recognised victims of fraud. 3. A UK Taxpayer Bill of Rights A simple, fair set of protections ensuring vulnerable people are not harmed again by the tax system. What you can do: If you or someone you know has been affected: Contact the Investment Fraud Committee Ask your local MP to support a fair review for fraud victims Share your story — it helps us push for change. No victim should be punished for being misled or defrauded. It’s time for a fair system that recognises and protects victims — not one that harms them again.