PSNI receives 5,600 reports of scams in 2022
Since the start of the year, 5,600 reports of scams or attempted scams have been made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Dec 30, 2022
By Paul Jacques
Chief Superintendent Gerard Pollock
The estimated total lost to scams each year in Northern Ireland is around £19 million, according to the chair of ScamwiseNI Partnership, Chief Superintendent Gerard Pollock. He said the staggering statistics show just how ruthless scammers are.
Chief Supt Pollock said: “We should never lose sight of the fact that behind every loss, no matter what it has been, is a person or a business owner who has been taken advantage of in the most despicable and callous way. In some cases, the impact of the scam has life-long consequences.”
He said the biggest reported loss this year was a person who lost £350,000 as a result of a cryptocurrency investment scam.
These may seem like a good way to boost savings, however, they are often high-risk investments with limited regulation or safeguards, said Chief Supt Pollock
In terms of the types of scams, Chief Supt Pollock said most frauds and scams are committed at distance, with criminals exploiting communication networks through phones, social media, emails or text messages. These can include…
