Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
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Transcript of Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Silence of the Scams: Progress,
Practice and Prevention29th September 2016
Newton Room, Hamilton Centre, Brunel University London
Hosted by the Ageing Studies Theme, Institute of
Environment, Health & Societies, Brunel University London
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Morning Chair
Professor Mary Gilhooly
Professor of Gerontology and Health Studies
Brunel University London
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Welcome
Professor Christina Victor
Theme Lead, Ageing Studies and Vice Dean - Research
Brunel University London
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
The Health Impact of Scams
Dr Jan Bailey and Dr Louise Taylor
University of Chester
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Financial Exploitation Closer to Home
Dr Gillian Dalley and Professor Mary Gilhooly
Brunel University London
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Financial exploitation
closer to home
Dr Gillian Dalley
Visiting Research Fellow
Prof Mary Gilhooly
Ageing Studies Theme
Institute of the Environment, Health
and Societies
CONFERENCE
Silence of the scams: progress,
practice and prevention
29th September 2016
Brunel University London
The project
Background
Funded by The Dawes Trust – a charity set up to further the prevention of crime
Project Aims - general
Investigating the nature and extent of the financial abuse of individuals
lacking mental capacity (relating to acquired brain injury, dementia,
learning disabilities, mental health problems)
Aims - this presentation
To present some findings from the project relevant to today’s conference
‘Silence of the scams: progress, practice and prevention’ and in
particular focusing on exploitation within the family context
Brunel University London
Research approach
Mix of methods, composite picture-building;
including
• literature and knowledge review
• national and local statistics analysis; expert interviews
• individual case studies from professionals
• case study (a London borough)
• Court of Protection (CoP) case analysis
Brunel University London
Challenges associated with capacity issues
• Hidden nature of abuse which takes place in the
domestic setting, especially intra-family abuse
• When is abuse not abuse?
• Who has capacity and who does not?
• The poison of intra-family disputes
• Lack of data – e.g. survey data
Brunel University London
In absence of a prevalence rate, what are the sources
of expert knowledge?
• Understanding capacity: Court of Protection, Office of the Public Guardian – mental capacity, human rights, best interests, protection
• Safeguarding: Safeguarding Chairs and teams –protection, best interests, managing risk
• Criminal justice: Police – evidence, protection and prosecution
• Support and help: Voluntary organisation advice lines and support, campaigning against disadvantage and exploitation
10
Brunel University London
Sources of expert knowledge (cont.)
• Health and social care: Health and social care
professionals - diagnosis, care
• Policy analysis: policy leads – analysis, campaigning for
change
• Custodianship of assets: lawyers – managing property
affairs, assets; Banks & building societies – oversight,
customer relations
11
Brunel University London
Possible sources of statistics on financial abuse of people lacking capacity
• National and local safeguarding statistics (Health & Social Care Information Centre -HSCIC)
• Voluntary sector statistics
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Court of Protection
• Crime statistics
Brunel University London
HSCIC Statistics on financial abuse: England
2013-
14
%
Numbers 2014-15
%
Numbers
Physical (2) 27 32,775 27 34,385
Sexual 5 6,440 5 6,255
Psychological
& emotional
15 18,700 15 19,760
Financial & material (3) 18 22,270 17 21,935
Neglect & omission (1) 30 36,090 32 40,885
Discriminatory 1 1,230 1 870
Institutional 4 4,750 3 3,965
Total number of
referrals
122,140 128,060
Concluded referrals by type of risk (%), 2013-14 and 2014-15, England
Brunel University London
HSCIC Statistics on financial abuse: regional
Region Physical Psychological
& emotional
Financial
& material
Neglect &
omission
Other
types
East Midlands 24 15 17 32 11
East of England 30 15 16 31 8
London 24 17 20 32 7
North East 23 15 21 34 7
North West 28 13 16 33 9
South East 27 15 16 34 8
South West 27 17 16 28 12
West Midlands 27 16 18 31 8
Yorkshire & the
Humber
26 15 16 32 11
England 27 (2) 15 17 (3) 32 (1) 9
Types of abuse by Region (%) 2014-15
Brunel University London
HSCIC Statistics on abuse of all types
Location of abuse
2013-14 2014-15
Care home 36 36
Hospital 6 6
Own home 42 43
Service within the
community
5 4
Other 11 11
Brunel University London
HSCIC Statistics on financial abuse 2014-15 England
Allegations of financial & material abuse - source of risk
(the individual alleged to be abusing)
Social care
support %
Known to
Individual %
Unknown
%
19 63 19
Brunel University London
Case study area
• Victims of financial abuse lacking capacity: 69%
• Allegations of financial & material abuse - source of
risk (the individual alleged to be abusing):
Known to individual – 59%
Social care support – 21%
Not known to individual – 29%
• Location:
Care home 17%; own home 58%; other 25%
Brunel University London
Court of Protection cases
• Analysis of 34 cases – out of 63 cases (27 rejected –
about DOLS and continuation/withdrawal of medical
treatment; 2 missed out) heard and published between
January – November 2015
• Analysed by following categories: LPA/EPA revocation,
grounds/reason, appointment of deputy, applicant (e.g.
Public Guardian, council, relative), respondent, intra-
family dispute, possible financial abuse, outcome.
Brunel University London
Relevant case characteristics
• Potential financial abuse present by applicant to the CoP
Public Guardian 13
Family 4
Council 1 Total 18
• Cases characterised by intra-family disputes by applicant
Public Guardian 13
Family 9
Council 1 Total 23
In 14 cases there were indications of financial misbehaviour and
intra-family disputes co-occurring
Brunel University London
Some CoP findings
• Types of financially abusive behaviour:
o gifting to self and others
o spending on property
o using funds as if ones own
o incompetence
Brunel University London
Some CoP findings (cont.)
• Suspicion triggers
ocare home fees arrears and failure to provide
personal allowance
ofailure to keep and/or submit accounts to OPG
oco-mingling of funds
Brunel University London
Case examples
Gifting
“These gifts [£75,000] far exceeded the limited authority to make gifts which conferred by section 12 (2) of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and in this respect GB (the attorney) contravened her authority as attorney. SG (the brother, also attorney) was a party to the transaction and he also contravened his authority as attorney,” para 32, c 6.
“CS (the daughter) had received £22,553.31 and PL (the son) had received £19,925.63 from the account…. Both attorneys regard the money in their mother’s account as their inheritance and consider that they are entitled to dip into it during her lifetime,” para 16.
Brunel University London 23
“The Public Guardian believes the amount of £117,289 is
an excessive amount to claim for out of pocket expenses. I
would put it more strongly than that. I believe that charging
one’s elderly mother a daily rate of £400 for visiting her and
acting as her attorney is repugnant” para 41, c 68.
Co-mingling
“contravened her duty to keep her money separate from the
donor’s. She had defiantly opened an account in her and
[her mother] D’s joint names soon after her brother Martyn
assumed overall control of the management of D’s property
and financial affairs” para 43, c 72.
Brunel University London 24
Intra-family hostility
“As regards the appointment of ES as OL’s deputy for property and
affairs, I do not believe he has sufficient detachment or impartiality
to manage his mother’s affairs and to ensure that her interests and
position are properly considered. I sense that he is motivated partly
by a desire to salvage his own inheritance and partly by a craving
for revenge against his sister and brother,” para 38, c 41.
“In response to my enquiry about his and Julian’s relationship with
their sister Lisa, Gary said “My sister and myself can’t abide each
other. If she was dying in the street, I’d leave her there.” He thought
that Julian’s relationship with her may be marginally better,” c 66
para 25.
Brunel University London 25
Incompetence
“what concerns me however is that Audrey has no intention
or desire to learn about the principles ….. or best interests
decision-making or her fiduciary duties as an attorney. One
of her personality traits is inflexibility or rigidity in thought and
behaviour. …..” para 40, c 70.
“the striking feature of this case was that neither the
applicant nor the respondents had any idea about the
fiduciary duties and practical responsibilities that a deputy is
expected to undertake and the roles of the Court of
Protection and the Office of the Public Guardian in ensuring
his compliance,” para 24, c 1.
Brunel University London 26
Self-interest
“I see no need to replace myself [by a panel
deputy]. I am the sole heir and because of my
mother’s dementia and current poor health, there
is no need to protect the estate’s financial
interests, which are effectively mine….….I am
the sole beneficiary of the estate and restitution I
made [of money he had already
misappropriated] would come straight back to
me on my mother’s death which considering her
present state of health is likely to occur sooner
rather than later,” c 68, para 28.
Brunel University London
Failure to pay care home fees
“As I have said elsewhere “with almost unerring monotony in cases of
this kind, a failure to pay care fees and a failure to provide a personal
allowance are symptomatic of more serious irregularities in the
management of an older person’s finances,” ” para 28, c 19.
“As is frequently observed in cases of this kind, failure to pay care
home fees, a failure to provide an adequate personal allowance, a
failure to visit, and a failure to produce financial information to the
statutory authorities, go hand in hand with the actual misappropriation of
funds,” para 38, c 55.
Brunel University London
Some emerging questions/issues from CoP
cases
• is IFD always an indication of abuse?
• lack of supervision
• lack of redress
• lack of punishment
Brunel University London
The role of the OPG and Court of Protection
• Need for more information about their work
• Lack of clarity about the role of attorneys
• Lack of supervision of attorneys
• Cases dealt with by CoP are important source of
information about financial abuse – they reveal the range
of abusive behaviour found in family situations
• Case analysis show that intra-family disputes play a
significant part in financial abuse
Brunel University London
Some findings from expert knowledge sources
(national and local)
• widespread awareness of financial abuse especially
within families, between ‘mates’, by informal carers – but
difficulties in taking action
• sometimes family carers involved in defrauding council by
deliberately running up debts – difficulties in seeking
redress against them
• concern that banks and other institutions don’t always
exercise diligence in responding to suspicions (or aren’t
even aware of possible abusive situations)
30
Brunel University London
Expert knowledge (cont)
• different professionals apply different thresholds for triggering
alerts and different standards of proof; leading to:
o tensions in relations between agencies (e.g. safeguarding
teams in local authorities, OPG, DWP and the police)
o pressure of workloads, long-term involvement in
family/domestic situations where financial exploitation may be
going on in order to prevent it
o assessment of capacity not always straightforward - best
interests; right to make unwise decisions; undue influence all
combine to complicate decisions to intervene or not
Brunel University London
Recommendations
• More knowledge-sharing across agencies
• Joint training
• Auditing of cases to learn lessons
• More information (and instructions) for families about their roles and
responsibilities as well as sources of support
Public policy issues
• Lack of redress – few prosecutions
• Lack of restitution – abuse may be stopped but assets are gone, loss
is not compensated for
Brunel University London Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Coffee and Tea Break
11.30am – 11.50am
Brunel University London
East Renfrewshire Prevention Team: Working in Collaboration to Empower
Residents to Avoid Personal and Financial Harm
Paul Holland
East Renfrewshire Council
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Tackling Mass Marketing Fraud (MMF) from a Multi-Disciplinary
Approach
Professor Monica Whitty
University of Warwick
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Tackling MMF from a Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Monica Whitty
DAPM: Detecting and Preventing Mass Marketing Fraud
EPSRC funded project
Project Vision
The proposed project will develop novel techniques to detect and prevent ‘online’ mass marketing fraud (MMF). The project will establish new foundations for (a) detecting assumed identities and persuasive messaging used by fraudsters and (b) delivering much needed insights into the psychological and technical factors that lead to poor decision-making on the part of existing and prospective victims of such frauds. Through its multi-disciplinary approach and close focus on co-designing the solutions with its project partners and testing them in-the-wild during live MMF-detection settings, the project will generate not only new scientific understanding of the anatomy of MMF but also tools and techniques that can form the basis of practical interventions in tackling MMF.
Research Hypothesis and Objectives: Although MMF can initiate and take place solely offline, our focus is on MMFs that initiate online. The overall objective of this project is to develop ethical and usable methods that demonstrably detect and prevent MMF.
RQ1: What are the different types of online MMF and how might we cluster different types of scams, based on psychological, sociological, situational and technical variables so as to better design MMF reduction and criminal justice pursuit?RQ2: What is the anatomy of online MMF (examining psychological, sociological and technical variables) and does this differ for different types of MMFs?RQ3: What data are ethically and socially acceptable to draw upon in detection and prevention of MMF?RQ4: What variables are important in enabling us to distinguish those who have become single or repeat victims from non-victims (examining psychological, sociological and technical variables)?RQ5: What variables are important in distinguishing a criminal from a non-criminal (examining psychological, sociological and technical variables)?RQ6: What methods ‘work’ and do not work (on a spectrum) to detect and prevent MMF?RQ7: What actions could be taken by various organisations to detect and prevent MMF?
Drawing from the real world
Current prevention and detection techniques – What works and what doesn’t work.
Drawing from the real world
Scientifically evaluate known methods – statistically test effectiveness.
Understanding the psychology of the scam
Victim typology
Persuasive techniques
Anatomy of the scam
Language used
Profiles
Scammers Persuasive Technique Model (Whitty, 2013)
Development of the relationship
Living abroad: time to develop a relationship using digital technologies.Poetic emails: used to woo victimsInstant Messenger: draw the person close; made the relationship a routine part of their day.Voice: developed trust further.High levels of self-disclosureTiming of communication (late at night)
The use of media
How media is used to persuade, trick
Develop close relationships –hyperpersonal relationships
Progression of the scam via media
Computer science
Drawing from findings in psychology, media and communications, and sociology – detect scammers’ communication; detect scammers’ profiles’
HCI
Drawing from psychology and computer science – persuading victim they have been scammed.
Ethics in the art of the possible
How ethical is it to draw from personal data to protect?
Ethics – responsibility & blame
Whose responsibility is it to protect? (e.g., industry, banks, government etc.)
Who is to blame – repeat victims?
Policy Development and implementation
Re-think policy based on our findings
Inform government, industry on ways forward to prevent and detect scams.
Brunel University London
Lunch
1.00pm – 2.00pm
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Afternoon Chair
Professor Priscilla Harries
Head of Clinical Sciences Department
Brunel University London
Safeguarding Adults at Risk from Scams: A collaborative approach
Brunel University London
Friends Against Scams
Beki Salmon
National Trading Standards Scams Team
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Beki Salmon
National Trading Standards Scams Team
29th September 2016
About the National Trading
Standards Scams Team
Five core objectives:
To IDENTIFYvictims of scams.
To INTERVENEand protect victims from
further victimisation.
To INVESTIGATE
criminal activity.
To INFORMlocal
authorities and agencies on how to work
with and support scam
victims.
To INFLUENCE
people at local, regional and national
levels to ‘Take a Stand Against Scams’.
The NTS Scams
Team has
approached over
200 Local Authority
Trading Standards
Services nationally.
Working with Local
Authorities
75%
16%
9%
Victims
Not Victims
Unknown
Identifying victimsVictim Feedback
750,000 potential victims
Average age of a scam victim is 75 years old
£30,865,637 estimated savings (£1,497 per victim).
£23,663,578 estimated detriment (£1,148 per victim).
InterventionDetriment & savings
Mail Marshals Scheme
Call Blocker projects
Royal Mail WTLL
Against Scams Partnership (WASP)
Projects & initiatives
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
About the National Trading Standards
Scams Team
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
About Friends Against Scams
‘Take a Stand Against
Scams.’
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Who is who in Friends Against
Scams?
Friends
SCAMchampions
SCAMbassadors
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Attend a SCAMchampion training session.
Recruit new Friends Against
Scams.
Hold Friends Against Scams
Awareness sessions.
SCAMchampions.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Why is learning
about scams
important?
ScamsWhat's the problem?
Oxford Dictionary Definition
A ‘Scam’ is a trick, a ruse,
a swindle, a racket’
Its nearest synonym is
‘FRAUD’.
“Scams make victims part
with their money and
personal details by
intimidating them or
promising cash, prizes,
services and fictitious high
returns on investment.”
National Trading Standards Scams Team (2016)
No matter what type of
scam, it is important to
remember that ALL
scams are
CRIMES.
To get victims hooked
and responding to
scams, criminals rely
on…
Loneliness
Vulnerability
Social
isolation
Shame
and
The fact that people don’t
REPORT that they have
been scammed.
ONLY 5% of these CRIMES
are reported.
Being conned by
investment fraudsters,
intimidated by doorstep
criminals, ‘clairvoyants’
and misled by fictitious
lotteries and prize draws.
The average age of a scam
victim is 75, showing that
criminals tend to prey on
older and often more
vulnerable members of
society.
People defrauded in their
own homes are 2.5 times
more likely to either die or
go into residential care
within a year.
This problem is growing.
53% of people aged 65
plus have been targeted
by scammers.
And it’s only going to get
worse.
Once a victim has
responded to a scam…
…their personal details are
perpetually shared and
sold on to other
criminals…
…and criminals will use
this information to…
…relentlessly target the
victim with either scam
mail, multiple phone calls,
or repeat home visits…
…in order to con, mislead,
intimidate and bully the
victim into parting with
their life savings.
Scam victims
SUFFER IN SILENCE.
Victims are often lonely
and the criminal is the only
‘friend’ they have.
Leading to situations like
these…
“By the way I never have
enough cash at this time in
the month, I am really now
wondering when I will ever
have any win.”
Letter from a victim to scammer
Scam victim’s house.
“So sorry, so if I’m not too late,
PLEASE can we start again?
Will you write to me again and
I’ll send you your £30?”
Letter from a victim to scammer
Leaving the victims to feel
like this….
“I get up, I wait for the post, I sort it, I go to bed. What else have I got? I might as well be
dead.”
“I hope I win, so I can move to a home. I want someone to talk
to.”
“I don’t get out, because I'm frightened. These letters are all
the company I ever get.”
One victim was found to have been
receiving 30 pieces of mail and 10
phone calls per day.
It was later discovered
she had lost over £1
Million.
Another victim agreed to work on
her driveway, which resulted in
repeat visits over two years; each
time she was persuaded to part
with more money.
She lost over £160k.
The actual value of the
work was only £6k.
Doorstep Scams victim being
escorted to the bank.
The stress and pain of
victimisation often results
in depression, withdrawal
and isolation from family
and friends and the
deterioration of physical
and mental health.
In some cases victims
have considered,
attempted or committed
suicide.
These victims are not
going to win the Australian
lottery or receive the
millions of pounds that are
‘waiting’ for them…
(for a small fee)
the problem is immense.
As you can see,
Scams cost the UK
economy between £5-10
Billion a year.
So, what can be done to
help give a voice to these
victims?
Together we can…
Talk about scams to
highlight the scale of
the problem.
Prevent people
from becoming a
scam victim.
Take away the
shame.
Together we can…
TAKE A STAND
AGAINST SCAMS!
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Five key points about scams
53%£5 – 10 billion
Anyone 5% Criminals
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Postal scams
Types of scams
Telephone scams
Doorstep scams
Online scams
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Trust
easily
Health
issueDementia Vulnerable
Socially
isolatedLonely Pressure
Sense of
purpose
Targeted
by
criminals
Anyone can be a scam victim.
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Consequences of falling for scams…
DebtsAttempt or
commit suicide
Damaged
relationships
More likely to
end up in care
Repeat
victimisation
Poor mental,
physical or
emotional
health
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Postal Scams
• Post office
• Stamps
• Cheque books
• Products
• Free gifts
Telephone Scams
• Phone calls
• Payments
• SMS messages
• Friends
• Helpful caller
• Opportunities
Doorstep Scams
• Poor quality
• Unnecessary work
• Fearful
• Pressure
• Cash withdrawals
Online Scams
• Suspicious emails
• Final demands
• Refunds
• Online relationship
• Payments
Financial hardship and / or self neglect
How to spot a victim…
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Scams are the product of organised,
predatory criminals…
…who gain trust to exploit and steal money.
Use befriending and grooming techniques
HelpfulAppear legitimate
CharmingFriendly
Persuasive Persistent
Threatening IntimidatingAggressive
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Congratulation
s!You are now a
Friend Against Scams.
Music: www.bensound.com
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
What’s next?
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Make a pledge and turn
your knowledge into
action.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Some example pledges
to get you thinking
about what you can do:
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
1. Tell five people about
scams and the Friends
Against Scams
initiative.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
2. Encourage someone
you know to visit the
Friends Against Scams
website.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
3. Share your Friends
Against Scams status
on social media.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
4. Look out for people in
your community who
are at risk of being a
scam victim.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
5. Actively support your
local fight against
scams by setting up or
taking part in a scam
awareness activity or
event in your local area.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
6. Campaign for change
by writing to your local
MP asking them to
promote scams awareness.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
The Friends Against
Scams team have pledged the following:
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Frances and Jodie
have pledged to
become
SCAMchampions
and are now
delivering Friends
Against Scams
sessions through
their work!
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Sarah has pledged
to share her Friends
Against Scams
status on social
media and to
encourage her
friends to complete
the online learning.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Jacob has pledged
to tell everyone that
he meets at
university about the
scale of the problem
with scams and
about Friends
Against Scams!
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Anushka has
pledged to talk to
her friends and
family about Friends
Against Scams and
the ways that they
too can become
involved!
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Sophie has pledged
to look out for her
neighbours and
others in her
community and
raise their
awareness of
scams.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Louise has pledged
to speak to anyone
who will listen (and
even those who
won’t!) about
scams and the
scale of the
problem.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
Beki has pledged to
challenge people’s
attitudes about
scam victims to help
stamp out the
stigma.
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
#FriendsAgainstScams
So, what will be your
pledge?
#FriendsAgainstScams
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Thank you for joining us today
Visit us online for all the latest news and
information about Friends Against Scams:
www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
Any
questions??
Brunel University London
Predicting Individual Differences in Vulnerability to Fraud
Martina Dove
Portsmouth University
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Predicting
individual
differences in
vulnerability to
fraud
Martina Dove
There is a common belief
that fraud victims are
gullible, therefore
deserving of their fate
and personal fraud is
often seen as a non-
serious crime due to no
visible injuries. (Titus and Gover, 2001)
Majority of fraud
cases go
unreported and
victims are
frequently told to
pursue justice in
civil courts, for
which most have no
funds. Only victims
of ID fraud fare
better.
Fraud victims
expressed desire for
fraud prevention
advice. (Button,
Tapley and Lewis, 2013)
I
N
T
R
O
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
Research found
individual differences
to be involved in
susceptibility to
persuasion and why
people engage with
scams (Lea et. al 2009, Modic
and Lea, 2013)
Test the newly developed questionnaire on a proxy
scam situation
Develop and test a psychometric measure which may pinpoint characteristics
involved in fraud vulnerability
Interview fraud victims and explore reflections on fraud victimisation and aftermath
Quick overview of my research
Yey
• 12 semi-structured interviews with fraud victims
• Age range 19 – 55
• Amount lost £20 - £25 000
• Analysed using thematic analysis approach (Braun and
Clarke, 2006) in order to identify the sequence of
events that contribute to scam victimisation
• Each sequence implicated in scam experience was
explored as a unique yet sequential theme
• Urgency
• Dissatisfaction
with present
circumstances
• Conformity
• Lack of scrutiny
of information
• Excitement
• Persuasion techniques
• Credibility
• General strategies
• Specific strategies
Reasons for
engagement
Staying
engaged
Protection
factors
S
T
U
D
Y
1
Why is
fraud not
reported?
“I just didn’t feel that I
wanted to get involved with
the police in that way and
really are they gonna do
anything about it? They just
gonna write it in the book or
give me a number, that’s it.
They’re not gonna be able to
find the person or, they’re
not gonna be interested in
that kinda thing. That’s their
job, that’s what they should
do, but I think this is termed
low level crime and it’s not
really worth investigating.”
Peter – victim of face to face
scam
“I wouldn’t go to the police
because I would be
embarrassed to go coz I
would just say oh my
goodness me, how stupid.
Even saying it out loud to you
really is enough to say oh
goodness, I can’t believe we
did it. Why? Three intelligent
people. I can’t believe we did
it really.”
Kate - pyramid scheme victim
Effects of fraud are long
lasting; loss of self esteem,
humiliation, lasting anger and
yearning for justice
“I still have
fantasies about
getting justice
somehow and
being like Bruce
Willis, chase him
down and giving
him a smack”
Bill – face to face
street scam
“ I know it's not the same thing, I don't
even wanna pretend it's the same
thing but it is an abuse and it is a bit
like rape or something. I haven't been
raped and I haven't been physically
attacked, it's not as bad as that but
whoever you are, you feel vulnerable
and angry.”
Henry – investment scam
“ I thought that as a law
abiding taxpayer, my
money went to the police
and if anyone committed
a crime against me, the
police would be all over
it. That is not the case.
Experience suggests
otherwise.”
Rob – defrauded by a
fake company
“I now only order off the internet
of big names like John Lewis,
House of Frasier… It's a shame,
you know. There could be some
amazing small company out there
that does an incredible product
and I would never ever order off
the Internet off them now.”
Nina – internet scam
Fraud causes more than
loss of funds, it can lead
to negative view of a
society as a whole due to
erosion of trust.
Preventing fraud is
important but how
to make it relevant?
SampleN = 48
10 – never defrauded
17 – victim of fraud
21 - fraud prevention experts
(we talked to forensic accountants, cybersecurity
experts, City of London police, Trading standards,
HRMC investigators and academics in the field)
Methodology • Using the data gathered by interviewing fraud
victims, available theories and research, 61 items
were generated and administered through online
survey to different groups of participants
• Participants were asked to rate each question for
applicability to fraud and scams and invited to
comment on each question
S
T
U
D
Y
2
P
I
L
O
T
AimsThe study aimed to contribute new knowledge
regarding the personal attributes that provide
protection against scam vulnerability
Methodology • 45 chosen items were administered through
online survey along with Modic and Lea (2013)
susceptibility to persuasion scale and potential
scam scenarios
• The items were factor analysed, checked for
reliability and data analysed using statistical
procedures
SampleN = 536
Age range; 18-82422 – never defrauded
114 – victims of fraud
S
T
U
D
Y
2
Impulsivity α =.725
lack of restraint and
disregard to risk with
regards to making
purchases
Decision time α =.643
preference to take more
time and carefully
consider information
when decision-making
Belief in Justice α =.481
perception that justice
prevails and people get
what they deserve
Susceptibility
to Fraud Scale
(26 item scale)
Compliance α =.865
likely to comply with others
due to activation of social
norms or other factors, such
as time pressures, despite
awareness of the vulnerability
Vigilance α =.651
awareness of others' motives
and readiness to cross check
information given
Independent samples test
Non-victims hold higher belief that justice
prevails and people get what they deserve,
which may make them less scam aware
Sub
scale
Group Mean SD t df Sig.
CMP no 2.80 .82 -1.01 534 .315
yes 2.88 .73
VIG no 3.85 .65 -.01 534 .993
yes 3.85 .66
IMP no 3.02 .86 -1.49 534 .137
yes 3.20 .84
DNT no 3.68 .68 1.37 534 .170
yes 3.58 .70
BIJ no 2.80 .67 2.72 534 .007
yes 2.61 .64
no = never
scammed
N = 422
yes = scammed
once or more
N= 114
AGE CMP VIG IMP DNT BIJ
AGE -.286** .375** -.330** .199** -.137**
CMP -.221** .350** -.233** -.060
VIG -.173** .212** -.083
IMP -.305** .094*
DNT -.055
BIJ
Younger participants show more
compliance, impulsivity and believe in
justice more readily, whilst older
participants show more vigilance and
invest more time in decision making
Those high on
compliance are
also more
impulsive, show
less vigilance
and take less
time making
decisions
Vigilant
individuals invest
more time in
decision making
and are less
impulsive Bonferroni adjusted p < 0.01
Correlations
Fraud victims tend to be more
compliant, impulsive, invest
less time in information
processing and decision
making. They also show
lower belief in justice.
Analysis of
covariance
After adjusting for age, there was a
significant effect of between-subject factor
‘victim group’ and the following
subscales:
Compliance F (1,533) = 3.95, p < 0.05
Impulsivity F (1,533) = 7.22, p < 0.05
Decision time F (1,533) = 4.19, p < 0.05
Belief in Justice F (1,533) = 5.46, p < 0.05
Sub
scale
type
t df Sig.
CMP real 1.32 534 .189
fake 2.98 534 .003
VIG real -1.83 534 .068
fake -3.91 534 .000
IMP real 2.99 534 .003
fake 5.34 534 .000
DNT real -1.60 534 .110
fake -2.18 534 .005
BIJ real .533 534 .594
fake 2.00 534 .046
Real email vs. phishing email by Apple results
Participants
were asked to
decide for
each whether
it is real or
fake
Only significant finding
regarding the genuine
correspondence was
connected to impulsivity.
Genuine correspondence had
some warning signs of a
phishing email, such as ‘hello’
instead of a customer’s name.
This is often pointed as a
feature of phishing emails,
which could explain why the
only significant finding was
connected to impulsivity
Individuals with higher scores on
compliance, impulsivity and with
higher belief in justice were less
able to recognise that the email
was a phishing attempt
Individuals high in vigilance and
those that invest time in
processing information and
making decisions were better at
discerning that the
communication was a phishing
attempt
Genuine email Phishing email
132 – thought it was a
genuine email
404 – thought it was phish
339 – thought it was a
genuine email
197 – thought it was phish
Phishing email Real Fake Total
Count
Real 83 49 132
Fake 161 243 404
%Real 62.9 37.1 100.0
Fake 39.9 60.1 100.0
Predicted group membership
60.8% of cases correctly classified
Genuine email Real Fake Total
Count
Real 202 137 339
Fake 88 109 197
%Real 59.6 40.4 100.0
Fake 44.7 55.3 100.0
Predicted group membership
58.0% of cases correctly classified
Genuine email
chi-square =10.91,
df = 5, p < .053
Phishing email
chi-square =40.24,
df = 5, p < .001
Discriminant
analysis of email
correspondence
By Apple
Susceptibility to
persuasion scaleModic and Lea (2013)
1. Trust and
authority
2. Social influence
3. Self-control
(lack of)
4. Need for
consistency
1 2 3 4
CMP .104 .604* .336* .159*
VIG -.194* -.298* -.198* -.137*
IMP .169* .311* .659* .167*
DNT .012 -.169* -.328* -.254*
BIJ .322* .023 .036 .018
* Correlation is significant at the Bonferroni
adjusted p < 0.0025
Susceptibility to persuasion`
Su
sc
ep
tib
ilit
y t
o f
rau
d
Related constructs denoted
by the same colour
Concurrent
validity
• Fraud vulnerability can be described as
consisting of 5 attributes; compliance,
vigilance, impulsivity, decision time and belief
in justice
• Susceptibility to fraud (STF) scale shows an
ability to distinguish between those that
report being defrauded and those that never
have been
• In addition, the STF scale has a good
predictive validity when it comes to phishing
communication
• There is evidence of agreement between STF
scale and the Susceptibility to persuasion
scale, measuring similar concepts
C
O
N
C
L
U
S
I
O
N
Brunel University London Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Coffee and Tea Break
3.10pm – 3.30pm
Brunel University London
The Dark Side of Marketing
Louise Hassan
Bangor Business School
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Closing – Research Issues for the Future
Professor Mary Gilhooly
Brunel University London
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention
Brunel University London
Thank you for coming
Drinks reception - 4.15pm
Silence of the Scams: Progress, Practice and Prevention