Fraud victims are being failed by justice system, warn charities

Victims of fraud are being failed by the criminal justice system and charities are warning as new analysis suggests only a small proportion of reports result in an investigation.

There were 1.2 million recorded cases of fraud in England and Wales in the 12 months to June. National Fraud Intelligence Bureau shows.

But fewer than 13,000 lawsuits were filed in the same time period. Ministry of Justice figures to show.

Wayne Stevens, national fraud lead at the charity Victim Support, said: “Our experience is that victims get a pretty bad deal from the criminal justice system as a whole.” The Home Office said it would publish “an ambitious fraud strategy in the New Year”.

Joan Holdaway, 85, shared her experience as part of the project. BBC’s Safe from Scam Week Between 22 – 28 November.

£1,000 was stolen after being bombarded with calls from fraudsters using photos of celebrities to promote investment scams online.

“It was very sad,” Ms. Holdaway said. “All I was thinking about was how to make the money I still had. Then I kept thinking, ‘I’m not going to get this back, I know I’m not going to do this.'”

He contacted Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting center for fraud and cybercrime, which put him in contact with Cleveland Police. Officers referred him to the Victim Care and Advice Service, which helped him get a refund from his bank under fraud rules introduced about a year ago.

Known as mandatory repayment requirement obliges banks to refund most victims of instant payment scams – When victims are deceived and directed to transfer money to criminals themselves.

No one has been prosecuted in Ms Holdaway’s case, and she told the BBC the emotional and mental impact of the incident was huge.

“It made me very, very suspicious. You can’t sleep properly and it’s constantly on your mind. All I did was avoid talking to anyone again.

“I don’t think you ever get over it… I guess it stays with you… and you wonder if everyone you don’t know is who they say they are? It’s really scary.”

Mr Stevens said Victim Support was concerned that people who reported fraud to the bank or police were not taken seriously.

“If fraud has an international dimension, it often goes uninvestigated,” he said.

“Until recently, money lost to criminals was often not paid back to victims.”

He said Victim Support was calling for better campaigns to raise public awareness of the real risks of fraud. It also called for greater cooperation between banks and social media companies where fraud could occur.

UK Finance, which represents the banking industry, said: “Protecting customers is a top priority and banks are investing billions of dollars in advanced systems to help detect and stop fraud.”

In a statement, the Home Office said fraud was “a serious and damaging crime that can affect anyone at any time and we are determined to bring those responsible to justice.”

A spokesman added: “We will be publishing an ambitious Fraud Strategy in the new year that will reduce fraud, target criminals and protect victims.”

A charity in Stockton-on-Tees is at the forefront of the fight against fraud, offering help, support and advice to thousands of victims every year.

Dave Mead helps run the Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS).

“A big part of our business, and some of our most challenging work, is fraud,” he said. “The figures are eye-watering. We contact between 500 and 800 fraud victims every month.

“The vast majority of victims do not report fraud [and] We find some. But we need to go into communities through elder groups, faith groups, youth groups.

“We need to step up the conversation.”

Vicky Beaumont is an advice and support worker at VCAS.

“Honestly, even though I help people and talk to people every day, it’s still hard to see them [victims] relive that feeling.

“[But] It’s very rewarding, it’s a great job to be able to support people like that and get great results for them. I would do this all day every day.”

BBC’s Safe from Scam Week BBC TV, Radio, iPlayer, Audios and Online content from 22 – 28 November 2025