“Have you been targeted by scams?” PCC asks residents in his latest survey

Around four in five attempted frauds and scams go unreported by the victims – hampering the authorities’ understanding of the threat and how best to tackle it.

Now Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones has launched an online survey to lift the lid on the real story of how residents have been affected or targeted by scams.

He hopes that by better understanding the problem Lincolnshire Police can be better prepared to combat the criminals.

The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and asks questions covering issues such as online bullying, grooming, identity theft, scams, hacking and harassment.

It also investigates whether the matter was reported to the authorities, where people went to for advice and what the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown has been on their online behaviour.

The survey has been sent to the Lincolnshire’s Safer Together Research Panel members – a group of more than 1,000 residents who have signed up to regularly offer their views and opinions on policing in the county.

It is also available for all residents and can be accessed here

“Lincolnshire Police and myself, are committed to combating and preventing cyber crime and scams perpetrated against residents, businesses and public bodies in our community,” said Mr Jones.

“This survey is designed to extend and deepen our understanding of how cyber crime and fraud, in all its various forms, are understood and experienced by residents right across our great county. As always, my aim is to identify new and better ways to enable us all to live safely together.”

The National Crime Agency estimates that cyber crime and fraud costs the UK around £190bn a year.

If you’ve been affected by fraud, crime or cyber crime, support is available. Find out more.