Today we announced our new Fraud Strategy, to prevent fraud while protecting victims and taking tougher action against perpetrators, driving down crime across the country.*
Thanks to the actions of this Government, neighbourhood crime is down nearly 50 per cent and violent crime has fallen by 38 per cent since 2010. However, new technology means fraud has become the UK’s most prevalent crime, constituting 41 per cent of all crime in England and Wales.
That’s why we are working with telecommunications businesses to stop fraud at the source, including fraudulent text messages and cold calling, and placing a duty on social media companies to prevent fraud. We are launching a National Fraud Squad backed by £100 million, targeting fraudsters overseas, and reviewing sentences. We are also changing the law, so more victims get their money back from their bank while improving and expanding the services provided by Action Fraud and making it easier to report fraud online.
Victims must know that the police will do something about their crime and fraudsters must know that if you commit a fraud against members of the British public then you will be caught. These measures will help to prevent people’s hard-earned money falling into the hands of criminals.
Fraud can happen to anyone at any age, so report all fraud to https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or call them on 0300 123 2040