PCC launches county-wide campaign to tackle fraud and scams
A wide-ranging campaign to protect residents from becoming the victim of scams and fraudsters has been launched by Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones today.
PCC Marc Jones has launched the unprecedented county-wide campaign to give communities the tools to fight back against the criminals.
The project also seeks to help parents shield their children from the evils of online grooming and the growing problem of so-called “self-generated child sexual abuse material”.
In a unique move Mr Jones has commissioned almost every local paper and online media outlet in the county to carry material warning them of the dangers and giving them the advice they need to protect themselves.
In addition, his office has produced thousands of free advice packs to help people protect themselves and their families against the thieves. Buses will also be adorned with key messages from the campaign, and this will be enhanced with online messaging.
According to figures from the national Action Fraud team they received more than 388,000 reports of fraud cases last year – including 4,000 from Lincolnshire - and nearly £20 million of losses from the county alone.
Yet statistics from the Crime Survey of England and Wales estimates only 13% of cases are being reported to Action Fraud or the police by victims.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has also warned of an alarming rise in self-generated child sexual abuse material in circulation in the UK in recent years – from 38,000 cases in 2019 up to 182,000 cases in 2021 and almost 200,000 in 2022.
While PCC Jones has invested money and resources in keeping residents safe from fraudsters and tracking on-line sexual predators, raising awareness and education are critical steps in the fight.
“It is hugely important that we shine a light on some of the tactics and tricks used by criminals to steal money from some of the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Mr Jones.
“While enforcement is a crucial part of the fight against these abhorrent criminals there is much we can all do to protect ourselves, our families and our loved ones.
“That is why it is so important to equip our communities with the understanding of how to spot a scam and the right tools to combat them – and that must come through awareness raising and education.
“For that reason, I have taken the unprecedented step of launching a wide-ranging campaign to highlight the dangers and provide the tools to help protect yourself against the fraudsters.
“If this campaign can protect a handful of people from becoming a victim of these evil criminals it will be worth it.”
To order your free fraud and scams prevention pack click here