Counter-fraud educational materials from Cifas and PSHE Association

New counter-fraud educational materials have been developed by Cifas, the UK’s fraud prevention service, and the PSHE Association to help young people across the country fight back against fraud. The materials will help teachers educate young people aged 11-18 on the dangers posed by fraud and scams.

The launch comes amid growing evidence of the impact fraud and scams are having on young people. The State of Scams in the UK report revealed that 1 in 6 (16 per cent) of UK parents with children aged 7-17 said at least one had been the victim of a scam in 2025.

Available for pupils in Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, lessons and materials will explore key risks affecting young people. This includes phishing scams, social engineering, money laundering and protecting personal information.

Material details

The latest educational offerings combine fraud-risk data and insight from Cifas and the wider counter-fraud community with curriculum expertise from the PSHE Association, to ensure they are practical and classroom-ready.

The materials include:

• Teacher guidance
• Lesson plans
• Interactive presentations
• Real-world scenarios to help build critical thinking and strengthen pupils’ resilience to fraud and scams

Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, said: 

“Fraudsters are targeting young people with increasing sophistication, whether through scams online, social engineering or attempts to recruit them into money laundering. Education is one of the most effective tools we have to counter these threats.

“Prevention works best when it starts early. By giving pupils the knowledge to recognise suspicious approaches, question what they see online, and understand the risks and consequences of fraud and scams, we can help reduce harm and make it harder for criminals to find new victims.”

Monica Perry, subject specialist from the PSHE Association, added:

“Fraud accounts for 45 per cent of all crime in England and Wales, while nearly all (96 per cent) young people spend money online, and many have encountered potentially fraudulent activity.

“The updated materials, developed in partnership with Cifas, raise awareness of the risks associated with fraud and cybercrime. They support young people to develop the skills to protect themselves, seek support and understand the consequences of sharing personal information or engaging in fraudulent activity.”

The educational materials form part of Cifas’ wider commitment to tackling Child Financial Exploitation and building resilience to fraud and scams through education.

Access the updated counter-fraud materials here