Online fraud increased drastically in last four years
Online fraud and cyber attacks make up for 40 per cent of all crime
Online fraud has increased in the last four years from 30 per cent of all crime to over 40 per cent.
This is according to Rachel Davis, the support lead at the Bobby Van Trust in Wiltshire.
Rachel claims that since she joined Wiltshire Police in 2021, online fraud has increased by over 10 per cent.
She said: “I believe that will continue to increase. The whole reason that fraud is on the increase is down to the fraudsters targeting people by fear.
“I do believe that there is a lot that we can do to protect everyone. Yes, the elderly are targeted but they are not the largest target.
“The largest group is actually young adults, from 18 to 30 year olds as their lives are online through banking, shopping and social media.”
The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust (WBVT) provides a free home security service and online safety service for over 60s, 18+ with a registered disability and people experiencing domestic abuse throughout Wiltshire and Swindon.
The charity funds the operation of three Bobby Vans that provide mobile workshops to enable their operators to secure peoples’ homes.
Rachel continued: “Elderly are targeted because they are a very trusting generation, a generation that believes what they are told.
“If they are informed that someone is taking money from their account, they will believe it.
“We are trying to protect vulnerable people, and a lot of people do not understand why cyber crime is but they know fraud.
The Bobby Van Trust has a stay safe online security service which is a voluntary team of cyber experts.
They offer a phone free visit to anyone who lives in Wiltshire and do a home visit to help people stay safe online.
Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: “I would like to thank the Bobby Van Trust for all they do to protect some of the most vulnerable people across Wiltshire and Swindon and recognise their brilliant work.
“The feedback that we have from those supported by the Bobby Van Trust is incredible – and upon meeting them I could see how utterly committed they were to Keeping Wiltshire Safe. I look forward to working ever closer with them.”