Is fraud a victimless crime?

By Stephen Beech

The perception of fraud as a “victimless” crime can weaken police investigations, according to a study.

Researchers found that officers are hampered by having to rely on limited resources and outdated, fragmented structures which are poorly equipped to address cyber-enabled, international criminal activity.

And the perception among some detectives that fraud is a victimless offense can hamper probes and the support given to those affected, according to the findings.

Fraud is estimated to cost the UK economy around £219 billion per year, according to the 2023 Annual Fraud Indicator.

It is the most common crime in the UK and a global concern, causing substantial financial harm, yet it can be deprioritized within policing.

Researchers interviewed 24 experienced police officers across various roles and ranks who gave a first-hand insight into fraud investigations.

Officers involved in the study, published in Policing: An International Journal, reported challenges arising from limited resources, skill gaps, and the complexity of fraud cases.

Some described how fraud can be perceived by some officers as low-harm, low-priority, and less legitimate than violent crime.

That contributes to a policing culture that sidelines fraud, weakens investigations and limits victim support, according to the report.

Reasons given by police officers for fraud not being a priority was the lack of visible, immediate harm and the perception that reimbursement resolves the issue. These views are reinforced by assumptions that victims were careless or complicit, despite the growing complexity of fraudulent schemes.

Some said they have colleagues who perceive fraud as “dull”, unrewarding or lacking in status compared to more visible crimes.

Fraud investigations are sometimes considered less stimulating - making them less appealing to pursue, according to the findings.

The study, by Aston University's Dr. Rasha Kassem and Professor Umut Turksen, from the University of Exeter, recommends targeted training, investment in cyber and financial forensics, stronger collaboration with external agencies, and cultural change within police organisations.

A further issue the research team discovered was that victims rarely report fraud or contest inadequate investigations often due to shame, fear of not being believed or a lack of awareness about how to report such crimes.

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The complexity of fraud – its cross-border nature, reliance on digital infrastructure, and sheer volume – was frequently cited as a key reason for de-prioritisation.

Officers also highlighted limited access to banking data and weak intelligence-sharing frameworks, often exacerbated by minimal cooperation from financial institutions.

The research team found that resource constraints lead to a "reactive, risk-averse" policing model that emphasizes safeguarding over investigation.

Participants strongly advocated for ring-fenced funding, digital training, a national reporting and analytics system and expanded access to specialist investigators.

They called for a multi-stakeholder approach involving banks, insurers, tech companies and regulators.

Some participants suggested that stronger regulation may be required to compel institutions to share data in a timely, transparent manner.

Officers reported that current arrangements are "slow, opaque and unaccountable."

While some specialist economic crime units already exist, participants noted that their reach and resourcing are "inconsistent" across forces.

Several officers advocated for nationally coordinated fraud teams with clear remits, accredited financial investigators and embedded digital analysts to ensure capacity for both complex and lower-value cases.

Such units could be modelled on major crime teams, but adapted to include forensic accounting, cyber investigation and intelligence liaison roles.

The researchers say that meaningful change requires not only improved capacity and cross-sector collaboration, but a "fundamental shift" in how fraud is conceptualized within policing culture. T

Turksen said: “We hope our work will inform more effective policies, training, and structural reforms to strengthen the policing of fraud and improve outcomes for victims.

“Fraud can be perceived by officers as low harm, low urgency, and unengaging.

"This significantly influences operational decision-making and undermines both investigative effort and victim support.

"Addressing these attitudes is vital to promote fairness, accountability and social trust."

He added: “It is important now to encourage attitudinal and cultural change alongside capacity-building and multi-agency collaboration.

"Police need better resources, training, specialized units and data-sharing frameworks to tackle these issues effectively.”