More than £20,000 has been recovered for fraud victims in the first two weeks of a re-launched PCC-backed advocacy initiative.
The Fraud Financial Advocacy (FFA) service re-launched last month after securing extra funding via money seized from criminals across Cleveland.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland, along with Cleveland’s four councils, have teamed up to fund two part-time fraud financial advocates (FFA.)
The FFAs are employed by the Victim Care and Advice service (VCAS,) run by Safer Communities. The posts are funded from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
More than £200,000 was recovered for victims from a previously funded, part-time fraud advocate. She had helped victims get refunds and cancel fraudulently obtained loans.
The service is now back – and it’s bigger and better! It will directly help more fraud victims get back what’s rightfully theirs and prevent further scams.
It’s already helped victims to recover more than £20,000 –despite advocates being in post for less than a month.
Scores of Victims
Advocates Vicky Beaumont and Akmal Bashir, are now helping scores of vulnerable victims fight for compensation when banks fail to protect their accounts.
They’re investigating a range of scams from fake employment cases, where people are required to pay to set up training only to learn there is no real job, to the staggering case of a £90,000, scam in which fraudsters befriended their victim over a considerable period to extort cash.
Vicky said: “It’s heartbreaking to see the impact on people who, through no fault of their own, have in some cases lost everything they have, which has a serious effect on their mental health and does lead to some people feeling suicidal.
“We work with the banks to highlight that there has been a fraud and expose any vulnerabilities in the process. We also advocate for victims. We’re already getting feedback from people to say it’s life-changing for them to have this support.”
The service is split between North Cleveland (Hartlepool and Stockton) and South Cleveland (Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland), with each area getting dedicated support.
Important Work
Cleveland OPCC and the region’s four Trading Standards teams have each contributed £10,832.20 from POCA funds to finance the one-year pilot.
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “This is such important work; we know fraud can ruin people’s lives when they’re just trying to study, save, go about their lives or get a job.
“Having this support – and knowing we’re part of the funding of that – is something we’re very proud of.
“The Safer Communities team is doing a brilliant job. It’s a great example of how we can collaborate, spread resources and work jointly to provide excellent services like this one.”
