In Derbyshire, detectives are teaming up with Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council in an effort to increase public knowledge and protect people from fraud. The countywide drive will focus on offering top tips and advice to encourage the public to act against fraudsters and give them the opportunity to hear from victims of the crime.
Detective Inspector Rob King, Head of the Derbyshire Economic Crime Unit said: “The National Fraud Authority estimates that the cost of fraud to the UK economy is a staggering £52 billion pounds per year − that’s a billion pounds per week, and while only a small part of that is accountable to Derbyshire these numbers are very worrying. The national threat from fraud is growing at an alarming rate which appears to be significantly aided by society’s increasing use of the internet.
“We aim to target this issue head on by predicting fraud offending trends in Derbyshire and increasing public knowledge of the crime to ultimately stop fraud. Just remember, if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is.”
The dedicated page on the force website includes the latest news releases about frauds that have happened in the county, useful advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of the crime, as well as the latest convictions. The website also features a top tips video hosted by Detective Inspector Rob King and Detective Constable Julie Wheeldon, to highlight simple steps to stay safe online, from using social media sites to online banking.
To find out more visit the dedicated Stamp out Fraud page at www.derbyshire.police.uk/stampoutfraud
