Former Thames Valley officer and best-selling author urges people to protect themselves against fraud
Fraud is now the UK’s biggest crime, accounting for more than two-fifths of all reported offences
Former Thames Valley Police inspector and bestselling author Clare Mackintosh is urging people to stop, challenge, and protect themselves against scams.
It comes as fraud has become the largest reported crime in the UK, accounting for over 40% of incidents.
A team of bestselling crime authors, including Clare Mackintosh, have now partnered with UK Finance's Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to develop a trilogy of original short stories aimed at combating scams.
These fiction pieces are designed to help the public identify scams and “encouraging people to think like a detective”, Mackintosh explains.
She said: "Fraud is such a widespread issue, and spotting it often involves noticing small clues. This campaign is about helping people slow down, question what they’re being told, and feel more confident spotting when something isn’t right."
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, the former inspector at Thames Valley police is also urging people to use different language, as phrases like “fell victim” can carry stigma and may stop people coming forward.
Mackintosh said: “On one hand, we want to empower people and give them the knowledge to spot fraud. But on the other hand, we also want to make it clear that this isn't your fault, that this is someone else that's committing this crime.
“So, if you know someone who has been victim of a scam or a type of fraud or a fraud attempt, we can make sure that we're not victim blaming.”
The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign includes stories to help tackle common scams, including impersonation, romance, and investment scams, while showing readers how to recognise signs through narrative and drawing parallels with crime fiction.
Jess Cook, spokesperson for Take Five to Stop Fraud, outlined the initiative: "By partnering with crime writers, we’re bringing scam tactics to life in a relatable and engaging way—helping people recognize the warning signs."