A specialist fraud advocacy team based at Safer Communities has helped scam victims recover more than £1 million.
The Financial Fraud Advocates service, delivered through Stockton-based Safer Communities’ Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), provides hands-on support to people who have lost money to fraud and financial crime.
The team helps victims gather evidence, challenge decisions and pursue complaints with banks, financial institutions and the Financial Ombudsman, where appropriate. The service has now passed the £1 million milestone of recoveries for local victims.
The service is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland (OPCC) and Trading Standards teams from Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland Councils. It uses money from the Proceeds of Crime Act.
That means cash taken from criminal activity is re-invested into helping local victims recover financially, re build their confidence and reduce the risk of being targeted again.
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Matt Storey, is now preparing to write to the Chancellor calling for stronger national action on fraud victim support.
He said the £1m milestone should be seen as both a major local success and a warning about the scale of fraud.
Banks must do more
Matt said: “Recovering £1m for victims here in Cleveland is an extraordinary achievement, but it is also just the tip of the iceberg.
“Behind every case is someone living with shame, fear and isolation for something that was never their fault.
“What strikes me most is how many people suffer in silence, blaming themselves for being tricked by sophisticated scams that exploit trusted brands, relationships and new technology.
“This service shows what can be done when partners stand alongside victims and fight to get their money back.
“We need national action to push this responsibility back on the banks by strengthening their duty to support victims to get back their hard-earned funds if they become victims of fraud.”
Dave Mead, VCAS Service Manager, said: “Passing the £1m mark is a huge achievement for the service and for the people we support, but behind every case is someone whose life has been turned upside down by fraud.
“Victims often feel embarrassed, blamed or powerless, when they have been targeted by organised and sophisticated criminals.
“Our advocates stand alongside them, help gather evidence, challenge decisions and support them through what can be a very difficult and confusing process.
“For many people, recovering money lost to fraud can be life changing. This service proves whatcan be achieved when victims are given specialist support and when local partners work together.”
One of the victims supported by the service is a local man, who has asked not to be named.
He recovered the final £25,000 linked to his case after fearing his family had lost £100,000 in the multi-million-pound Moneda Capital scam.
Wide range of scams
Fraud victims can be affected by a wide range of scams, including online fraud, fake investments, impersonation scams, romance or befriending fraud, courier fraud and repeat financial exploitation.
As well as helping people pursue lost money, Financial Fraud Advocates work to reduce repeat victimisation and support people dealing with the emotional impact of fraud.
Vicky Beaumont, Financial Fraud Advocate at Safer Communities, said: “Fraud victims often come to us feeling embarrassed, blamed or overwhelmed, when they have in fact been targeted by skilled criminals.
“We help take that pressure away by gathering evidence, challenging decisions and making sure victims are heard.
“Passing the £1 m mark shows what can be achieved when victims have specialist support and someone in their corner.”
Safer Communities says the Cleveland approach could offer a practical blueprint for other areas as police, councils, Trading Standards teams and victim services look for better ways to respond to the scale and harm of fraud.