The cost of online fraud and cybercrime goes beyond the financial far too often people feel violated with many too embarrassed to admit they fell victim to a scam.
Unfortunately, cybercrime is on the increase and the pandemic has given rise to new and more complex types of scams all financial gaining the trust through sophisticated health scams, using false celebrity endorsements even fake Covid treatments.
Cyber enabled fraud is thought to cost the UK nearly £2 billion each year and criminals are finding new ways to scam people every day.
We have a specialised cyber unit at Cheshire Police and this week I met with Detective Constable Andrew Kevan to learn more about the work he and his team do, to try and help keep my constituents safe.
These scammers have caused untold devastation financially and emotionally to residents and businesses across the area.
The elderly and vulnerable are perhaps seen as the easiest targets, more trusting of people and possibly unaware of the huge scale of the scamming industry, but businesses and the young are being targeted and are vulnerable too.
While sadly our elderly continue to receive cold calls with criminals hoping to tap into their good nature, it was another group that were singled out as targets, children getting their first phone, usually as they enter secondary school.
Without thinking children are clicking on attachments which looks legitimate, perhaps about the latest game they are playing with their friends, but police say it allows scammers to put malware on the phone and access their camera.
By no means do I want to scare parents but make them aware what cyber experts are reporting. However sensible the child, it is so easy to fall into a trap.
To hammer home the importance of internet safety an example of Snapchat was used, just because the picture disappears, information can get into the wrong hands and be traced. That applies to everything we do online.
It goes without saying question everything and if it doesn’t look or feel right it probably isn’t.
There are many simple things we can all do to try and keep ourselves safe. But most importantly if you fall victim do not be ashamed or embarrassed, reach out for help.
Age UK and Citizens Advice are very active in our area and the work done by DC Kevan and his colleagues is fantastic.
My office is always available too. Sadly, this issue is not going away.
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