Police urged to look beyond money lost when fraud strikes

Police officers should look beyond the money lost when assessing the harm caused by fraud, and consider the damage to victims' health, wellbeing and independence, according to new guidance from Aston University and the University of Exeter.

The guidance, Rethinking Fraud in Policing: Challenging Misconceptions and Strengthening the Police Response, is aimed at officers, supervisors and police leaders in England.

More than a financial crime

The guidance says officers should assess "the effect on wellbeing, health and independence" when dealing with fraud victims. It notes that offenders deliberately exploit "trust, respect for authority, fear, urgency and the desire to help or protect others".

It advises officers to listen without judgement, assess how vulnerable a victim is, set realistic expectations about what can be done and check whether the offender is still in contact with the victim.

Valuing fraud investigation

The authors also call for fraud investigation to be recognised as skilled work, with proper career paths for officers who specialise in it. Fraud is the most common crime in England and Wales, but it has often been seen as a lower priority than other offences.

Who wrote it

The guidance was written by Dr Rasha Kassem, Director of the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, and Professor Umut Turksen of the University of Exeter, who is a visiting scholar at Aston.

"Fraud may not always leave visible injuries, but its effects can be profound," Dr Kassem said.

Home Office research has found that fraud victims often suffer stress, anxiety and depression, and that many crimes are never reported, sometimes because victims feel embarrassed or think nothing will be done.

How to protect yourself

Police advise people never to give out bank details or passwords to someone who contacts them unexpectedly, to take time to check whether a request is genuine, and to talk to someone they trust if they are unsure. A genuine bank or the police will never ask you to move money to a safe account.

Fraud can be reported to the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service online or on 0300 123 2040. If you think your bank account has been used, call your bank straight away.