Police scambusters retrieve stolen £3m

The unit focuses on getting money back for victims where they can, as well as working to educate the public on the latest scams, what to look out for and how to protect themselves and their hard earned money.

Towards the beginning of last year, when the pandemic began, the team saw a rise in scams relating to the coronavirus so worked to put out warnings on their dedicated Twitter account, as well as using posters to signpost people to information. The hub also worked with local supermarkets who were offering a delivery service to the most vulnerable, to include an information pack produced by GMP’s Economic Crime and Cyber Unit, in customer’s deliveries.

The hub also includes a volunteer team – the Scambusters, who offer peer-to-peer support to those who have been a victim of fraud by giving practical help and advice to prevent them falling victim again. Despite working from home due to Covid restrictions for most of 2020 the team still made 2,500 calls to vulnerable members of the community to offer support.

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