There are many crimes for which the victim is likely to feel angry, upset, threatened and so on but there are also crimes for which the victim may feel partially or completely to blame.
Fraud is one of those crimes that leaves many people feeling foolish for having fallen for it and this is a key reason why a high percentage of frauds are thought to go unreported.
A recent Barclays survey of 1,500 people who have been victims of fraud shows that one in four fraud victims has not even told their partner what happened. The same number feel that being scammed would be more embarrassing than doing a live performance or being stood up on a date.
The words “stupid” and “angry” are commonly used. Yet the survey also suggests that it happens to all of us. For this reason, Barclays ran a series of “Embarrassing Fraud Clinics”, in places such as shopping centres, where the public could talk about their concerns. The idea was to get the message out that we are all potential victims but there is no shame in being defrauded.
Barclays Advice on Dealing with Fraud
- Don’t feel guilty
Do not feel ashamed and guilty. Instead remember that fraud happens to people from all walks of life.
- Contact the police
Report it to Action Fraud and your bank (if relevant). The quicker you do this, the more likely you are to recover any losses.
- Get advice from your bank (if relevant) e.g. Barclays say they are happy to offer such advice.
- Talk about it with friends, relatives, colleagues. Spreading the word raises awareness of fraud and helps other victims to deal with it.
Advice on Protecting Yourself Against Fraud by Scammers Claiming to be from Your Bank
- Never give your online banking PIN, passcode or password to anyone, even a caller claiming to be from the police or your bank.
- Your bank or the police will never ask for your details by text, email or phone, or request that you transfer money or make a payment to a “safe” account.
- Don’t rely on the caller display on your phone or SMS messages claiming to be from Barclays – fraudsters can manipulate these.
- Always cover your PIN to prevent anyone from seeing it, and don’t let anyone distract you during a transaction
Stay safe!
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