Fraud is now the most commonly experienced crime in the UK. However, police and wider public institutions are struggling to keep pace with this rising demand and too often failing to meet the needs of victims. Fraud is usually framed as a financial issue, but there is a growing body of evidence that shows it can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of victims. For some, recovery is dependent on receiving the right support, while others struggle to recover even with that support.
This research addresses the considerable gaps that remain in our knowledge of how fraud impacts on victim health, why some victims are more impacted than others, and what victims need to enable them to recover. The police understanding of the fraud picture and offending is improving, but without this knowledge about the victim experience, we cannot effectively understand the harm caused by fraud or develop support services that protect the wellbeing of those affected and reduce longer-term negative effects on individuals.
