£1m success story for PCC-backed scheme

A specialist fraud advocacy team based at Safer Communities has helped scam victims recover more than £1 million 👏👏

The Financial Fraud Advocates service, delivered through Stockton-based Safer Communities’ Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), provides hands-on support to people who have lost money to fraud and financial crime.

The team helps victims gather evidence, challenge decisions and pursue complaints with banks, financial institutions and the Financial Ombudsman, where appropriate. The service has now passed the £1 million milestone of recoveries for local victims. ✍🏻

The service is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland (OPCC) and Trading Standards teams from Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland Councils. It uses money from the Proceeds of Crime Act.

That means cash taken from criminal activity is re-invested into helping local victims recover financially, re build their confidence and reduce the risk of being targeted again. 🫆

Read about our success story at: 

Scam victims recover more than £1m thanks to specialist PCC-backed scheme. - Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner