Over £1million has been refunded to victims of fraud in the county thanks to North Yorkshire Police’s Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer.
Rachel Graham works in the force’s Economic Crime Unit where her role is to support and help protect the most vulnerable victims of fraud.
Part of her role is to enable victims to obtain reimbursement from their bank after losing money to fraudsters.
Over the past financial year, she has helped victims recover £1,025,766 - and prevented £81,137 from being handed over to fraudsters in the first place.
The amounts reimbursed to victims range from £550 to £360,000.
Rachel also works with victims to empower them and prevent them falling prey to fraudsters again.
A former Detective Constable of 30 years, including 17 years spent investigating fraud in Cleveland Police’s Economic Crime Unit, Rachel joined North Yorkshire Police in March last year.
She said:
“Having investigated fraud for most of my career, nothing motivates me more when I see the devastation it causes when someone loses their life-savings to wicked, organised criminals.
“Some of them are very convincing and prey on older and vulnerable people, taking advantage of their trusting nature. In many cases the victims have not reported the frauds to their bank.
“My job is to ensure the victim has done everything they can to get their money back.
“In some cases, it could be advising and supporting their family about how to obtain compensation, or it could be writing to financial institutions on their behalf, sometimes I advise officers and PCSOs who visit fraud victims on what can be done.
“It’s not always possible, but I will do everything I can to ensure all possible routes are taken to obtain reimbursement for their loss.
She added:
“It’s a team effort and I would not be able to do it without the rest of our team including our amazing fraud ambassadors, analysts, police staff assessors/investigators and detectives who are all equally as passionate about stamping out fraud as I am.
“Working together we are able to make a massive difference."
Have you been a victim of fraud? North Yorkshire Police’s website has lost of information and advice: www.northyorkshire.police.uk/fraud
Skipton charity refocuses its mission as demand for children’s mental health support surges
Airedale emergency department 'exceptionally busy' with flu cases rising
Skipton Brass Band Conductor shines on Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small
Local dads raise £11,892 to support Airedale Hospital and Community Charity
Yorkshire Water finally lifts five-month hosepipe ban
Don't blame wildlife for £11.7m Kex Gill overspend, say Green councillors
New school observatory opens to inspire next generation of astronomers
Brave dippers raise more than £5,000 at Sue Ryder’s first Big Dip Dales
Tourism tax would be a 'hammer blow' for hospitality, says Skipton MP
New train timetables on Airedale Line from Sunday
An evening with Inbetweeners comedian in Silsden
Skipton named happiest place to live in the UK
Funding available to help rural community groups grow stronger and work smarter
Come say hello to Santa in Skipton
Friends of the Dales Launches ‘Eyes on the Skies’ Campaign to Stop Raptor Persecution
Sue Ryder's Christmas Treecycling scheme launched
Skipton MP praises 'tremendous progress' of £82.5million Kex Gill project
Skipton to feature in new North Yorkshire Calendar
Ermysted's to adopt new Year 7 Admissions Test
Accounting firm in Silsden celebrates 7 years in business
