West Mercia Police warning fraud will get worse as AI advances
They said half of calls to police are to do with fraud
West Mercia Police have told us they expect fraud to get worse as technology advances, particularly AI.
Their cyber and fraud team told us half of calls police receive are related to fraud.
How is fraud being tackled?
The government announced this week (13th Apr) that they would invest £121 million into cutting-edge quantum technology as researchers look for ways to fight fraud and money laundering.
The money, which will be made available over the next year, is intended to fund research into health, cybersecurity and tackling fraud, as well as provide opportunities for the next generation of quantum researchers.
Quantum technology involves using the universe's smallest particles to build more powerful computers that can deal with complex problems.
How big of a problem is fraud in West Mercia?
West Mercia Police told us they welcome the funding into quantum technology, as they say everyone has encountered fraud thanks to the latest technology.
"Once you receive a fraudulent text or email, you are likely then to receive them daily.
"Fraud will only get more difficult to detect by the average person, as technology advances," said Rebecca Smith, Cyber and Fraud Protect officer at West Mercia Police.
What do I do if I think I have been defrauded?
Officer Rebecca Smith told us some signs you may be being defrauded online: "A prize from a number you do not know, a delivery company demanding you pay a fee before they deliver your parcel.
"An appeal from a family member to send them some money. There are some psychological tactics fraudsters commonly use.
"These tactics have the sole aim of making people act before they have time to stop and consider whether the message is genuine," she said.
If you think you have received a fraudulent message:
- You can forward it to the number '7726'.
- Suspected fraudulent calls can be sent to '7226' starting your message with 'CALL'
- Fraudulent websites can be reported on the 'NCSC' website.
- Report it on the 'Action Fraud' website.