PCC discusses Fraud Strategy announcement
Matthew Barber yesterday welcomed the announcement from the Government of a national Fraud Strategy.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “I was pleased to see the new Fraud Strategy announced yesterday (03/05).
“Fraud is the most frequently committed crime in our country. £Billions are lost to fraudsters each year. They callously go after the most vulnerable, lying and emotionally manipulating their targets. For victims, the consequences aren’t just financial with many suffering from mental health issues as a result.
“The new Fraud Strategy includes some important proposals:
- Banning SIM Farms to stop criminals sending 1000s of messages
- Banning cold calls on financial products
- Placing a duty on social media firms to prevent fraud
- Replacing Action Fraud with a state-of-the-art system
- Making sure people know how to protect themselves
- Ensuring that more victims of fraud get their money back
“There is also a need to recognise the overly complex landscape of organisations involved in both preventing and investigating fraud. Now is the time to simplify the system. Whilst local police forces cannot tackle national/international fraud on their own, forces such as Thames Valley Police are vital to catching these criminals. The strategy must align with the work of the police.
“Our message to fraudsters is clear: we are coming for you. As is our message for victims: we are on your side.”
