It's easy to feel powerless in the face of the UK's most common crime, because of the sheer scale of fraud offences annually and the devastating impact on individuals.
But friends and family can play a vital role in helping victims recover from a scam, both by offering non-judgemental emotional support and by and helping with the practicalities of mental health and financial recovery.
Read on to find out how you can help if someone you care about is a victim of a scam.
1. Tell them: 'You're not to blame'
2. Find support
Guilt, shame, fear and loss of confidence are just some of the painful feelings that can arise for someone who's been scammed.
Victims suffering mental health issues following fraud may wish to explore support options such as talking therapy.
3. Help them understand their rights
Victims may feel a sense of hopelessness about recovering their stolen funds. But you can empower them with the knowledge that many scam victims do recover some or all of their stolen funds.
Let them know that, depending on how they've paid the scammer, they may be able to benefit from consumer protections to help them get their money back.
For example, bank transfers may be covered by the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM), a voluntary code of which most major banks and building societies are now signatories.
Debit card payments (or credit card payments worth under £100) may be eligible for chargeback protection, while credit card payments worth £100+ could benefit from Section 75 protection.
4. Recognise an emergency
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/4-ways-to-help-a-fraud-victim-a4oEx6o3Fur3