Jersey fraud victims losing more than £20k on average

Thursday 17 February 2022

Victims of fraud living in the Channel Islands are being scammed out of more money on average than their UK counterparts, new figures have shown.

Average losses for victims in Jersey and Guernsey were £22,726 and £17,647 respectively, according to a report by Action Fraud.

It showed that reported losses from cybercrime and fraud in the UK totalled £2.4bn last year, a 174% increase from 2020.

Over 49 policing areas, 445,357 instances of fraud were reported in a more-than-tenfold rise from the 35,739 cases registered in the previous year. The most common types of fraud were those relating to cheque, plastic card and bank accounts, online shopping and auctions and application fraud (excluding mortgages).

Out of all policing areas, victims of fraud living in the Channel Islands had the highest financial loss on average per victim. At £22,726 and £17,647 for Jersey and Guernsey respectively, average losses were significantly greater than places like North Wales where losses per fraud victim were at its nationwide lowest at an average of £2,500.

In the first three months of 2021, Jersey residents were scammed out of £400,000. Fake Facebook romances, email hacking and dodgy investments alone saw Islanders lose over £100,000 throughout the course of the year.

Video: Netflix documentary "The Tinder Swindler" has reignited discussion over romance-related fraud. (Netflix/YouTube)

“While Jersey benefits from a very low general crime rate,” a States of Jersey Police spokesperson said, “the island is unfortunately not protected from those fraudsters who continue to target us all via the telephone and internet.”

“This is why we, in partnership with the wider Government of Jersey and groups such as the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum, continue to remind islanders to be vigilant, to double-check any request for personal information, especially financial information and if in any doubt at all, to check with friends, family or a trusted professional before parting with any money.”

“Since 2018, the number of recorded crimes that relate to scams and frauds in Jersey have increased by almost 100%. 2018 saw 86 crimes, 2019 saw 98, 2020 saw 134 and 2021 saw 158.”

“Unfortunately, some of these scams and frauds do result in financial losses to islanders, some of which are then reported to us and/or Action Fraud directly.”

Pictured: States of Jersey Police advise to "avoid talking to cold callers".

The police re-iterated their general advice for those concerned about fraud:

• Avoid talking to cold callers. Fraudsters like to create confusion, and complete due diligence is advised if approached regarding potential investments. If it sounds too good to be true, then often it is. If in doubt, hang up or otherwise end communication.

• Fraudsters will use the cloak of a reputable business name. Reputable companies will never approach you in this way. Research a company if you have not heard of them, as others may have already reported them as fraudsters.

• Do not be pressurised. Fraudsters like to create urgency or scare you into doing something. Reliable companies (especially banks) will never ask for your PIN, passwords or tell you that they need to move your money.

• Criminals use the current climate / current news to disguise their frauds and scams. Over the last two years, this is largely related to COVID.

For further guidance or for details on how to report a fraud attempt, visit the Jersey Fraud Prevention website HERE.

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Fake 'romance' and dodgy investments scam islanders out of £100k