Further Support and Practical Tips
A Holistic Approach
As emphasised in the legislation section of this training, in many cases, adopting a multi-agency approach and utilising the specialisms of other agencies to ensure the individual's needs are met is essential to ensuring the best outcome for a victim:
Trading Standards Officers can advise about scams and help people protect themselves from repeat victimisation.
The Police may need to be called in cases where there is an immediate threat to the individual.
Adult Social Care may need to instigate a safeguarding enquiry in cases where vulnerable adults are victims of scams in order to reduce the risk of further financial, emotional and psychological abuse. If not already involved Adult Social Care may also undertake a social care assessment in order to ensure the victim’s social care needs are being met.
Various statutory and voluntary agencies will also have a role in helping to address the underlying causes that make people more susceptible, such as addressing social isolation via a befriending service.
Reporting scams and instances of doorstep scams to Report Fraud and the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline will also help enforcement.
By virtue of their role they will usually have the most contact with the victim and normally be the person(s) that the victim discuss their concerns with on a regular basis.