Police Service of Northern Ireland Receives 5,200 Scam Reports in a Year

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) received 5,200 scam reports between November 2023 and October 2024, with victims of fraud reporting losses of £19 million.

A victim received a call from the fraudster posing as bank staff and lost £100,000 as a result. The scammer falsely claimed suspicious activity in the victim's bank account and persuaded the victim to move the funds.

Other victims have handed over more than £50,000 to pig-butchering scams or romance scams.

The PSNI is reminding the public to remain vigilant and is urging people to report all scams to help stop scammers from preying on more money.

Joanne Gibson, Superintendent of PSNI, Chair of the ScamwiseNI Partnership, a fraud awareness program, believed that criminals don't care where the money comes from or the serious implications of their crimes.

For victims, not only do they suffer financially, but they are also emotionally traumatized by losing money due to scams. For some, it can be devastating.

“It's sickening because people who have placed their trust in someone, or believed an opportunity to be genuine, discover in the most cruel way a criminal has stolen their money,” said Supt Gibson.