The human cost of fraud – The Police Foundation

Because fraud is so widespread, almost all of us will have our own fraud story. That time you were expecting a parcel and clicked on a link without thinking, or you bought that bargain online from what seemed like a genuine seller, or you answered that telephone call about suspicious activity on your account. Maybe you realised in time. Maybe you didn’t. Maybe you felt foolish once you understood what had happened. Maybe you reported it. Or maybe you felt too ashamed. Perhaps you felt anxious and stressed until it was resolved. Perhaps you were able to put it behind you. Or perhaps that anxiety began to spill over into other parts of your life.

If any of this sounds familiar, you are far from alone. Fraud is now the most common crime in England and Wales. Yet while we no longer describe fraud as a victimless crime, it is still primarily understood and responded to as a financial…