What is Cyber-crime?
There is a wide range of offences that can be committed through communication technology. Cybercrimes are commonly considered as falling into one of two categories:
- New offences committed using new technologies, such as offences against computer systems and data- crimes such as hacking or breaking into computer systems to steal or alter data
- Traditional offences committed using new technology, where networked computers and other devices are used to facilitate the commission of an offence - Crimes such as the transfer of illegal images or fraud.
While the focus is often on online fraud or child protection, there is a significant number of other offences committed through the internet, such as harassment, threatening behaviour and other anti-social activity.
What is Fraud?
Fraud is an act of deception committed for personal gain or to cause loss to another party.
What should I do?
Most incidents of fraud or cybercrime are random and not personally targeted towards the victim. Sometimes people choose not to report an incident because they are embarrassed – remember that fraud is a crime and fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to strike. Your information might help protect someone else.
How to report it?
If you’ve been a victim of fraud and you are not in any immediate danger you can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud is the UK’s first national fraud reporting centre which takes crime reports from victims of fraud and provides a crime reference number.
What to expect?
Your report will be fed into the police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to gain a more complete national picture of fraud. You will also be directed to a wealth of resources to protect yourself in future. For more information please see the organisations below.
The Police and Crime Commissioner funds organisations that provide support services for victims and witnesses in Derbyshire. These are free of charge and are available to anyone who lives in Derbyshire. For cyber crime and fraud these support services are provided by Derbyshire Victim Services.
If you have ever been the victim of crime, or have been affected by a crime committed against someone close to you, Derbyshire Victim Services can provide all the help and support you need. Their local team offers a friendly, free and confidential service to anyone living in Derbyshire. It doesn’t matter if you reported the crime to the Police or not they are here to help you with any practical advice and emotional support.
Text CORE to 82055
Below are a list of other organisations that may be able to provide advice and support: