Latest news with #victimrecovery
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Teesside fraud-busting scheme extended by a year
A scheme which has helped fraud victims recover a total of about £300,000 of 'lost' money has been extended by 12 Financial Fraud Advocates (FFA) pilot, run in the north-east of England by Safer Communities, has been operating since the beginning of 2025, and was initially due to finish at the end of the those it has helped is a Teesside woman who had £26,000 taken from her bank accounts by a family son described the service as "invaluable". Ian - not his real name - told BBC Radio Tees the family felt "betrayed" when they discovered a relative had withdrawn £26,000 over the course of a year, after having stayed with fraud came to light when Ian's sister went to pay in a cheque at the bank on behalf of their mother, who has a terminal illness."We discovered a lot of money had gone from my mum's bank account," Ian said, adding: "Even larger amounts had been transferred out of her ISA into her bank account and then on to another account."It had started with relatively small amounts, but then accelerated. Sometimes a couple of thousand pounds was going within a week."My sister and I couldn't sleep at night. Her hair started dropping out with the stress of it. I told my dad and he started sobbing in my arms." 'Tip of the iceberg' Without power of attorney, Ian said he had been unable to deal with the issue on his mum's the FFA team, based at Stockton, was able to step in and help - providing an advocate to talk to the family member responsible for the fraud was later sentenced to a suspended jail FFA is funded by money recovered from criminals using the Proceeds of Crime Act. While some fraud victims do come forward, the FFA's Dave Mead described them as "the tip of an iceberg"."This is a fairly new scheme. We've been running five months, and it's a bolt-on to the support we already provided, such as emotional help and referring people to debt counsellors."Bad people's money is now helping good people. "We're at about £300,000 recovered - that's back into the pockets of people on Teesside who have been victims of romance fraud, courier fraud or rogue traders."It's great to see the smile on people's faces when money is returned."Mr Mead said people who suspect they have been a victim of fraud should immediately contact their bank, followed by FFA will then contact victims having had the details passed on by officers. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
New report details state's response to human trafficking through victims' eyes
HARTFORD Conn. (WTNH) — The Regionalized Human Trafficking Recovery Taskforce released a new report Tuesday that identifies seven key challenges in Connecticut's victim response. The report is a first of its kind for the state because it is fully curated through the eyes of the human trafficking victims. DCF to close Harwinton group home following investigation into sexual assault, trafficking allegations The report was led by Connecticut Children's Alliance Executive Director Krystal Rich and Hartford State's Attorney Sharmese Walcott. Both Rich and Walcott serve as co-chairs on the taskforce. The report used data from 49 victim case studies. Each of the victims range in ages from 12 to 50 years old. The taskforce was created in 2021 and since, the team has been working to spearhead human trafficking across Connecticut and ensure better recovery for the victims. Rich told News 8, as part of the team's effort to build a survivor centered system, they orchestrated a journey mapping report, which 'is a visual tool used to understand and document the steps, experiences and interactions a person or group goes through within a system.' This gives a first-hand perspective of the steps in place throughout each tier of the state's recovery system through the eyes of the victim. The report revealed critical gaps that need additional attention and improvement moving forward. The first key challenge identified is decentralized oversight. 'There's no one who looks at the whole statewide system and holds people accountable and makes sure there's a continuum of care,' Rich said. The taskforce hopes to address the decentralized oversight by improving the current fragmented oversight and limited collaboration. The final report outlines seven key challenges in Connecticut's trafficking response, including: Decentralized Oversight: The absence of a clear statewide system or agency-led governance for human trafficking response results in fragmented oversight and limited collaboration. Varied Systems & Processes: Significant inconsistencies in intake, screening, and referral processes across different agencies and organizations, including varying definitions of human trafficking. Inconsistency in Data Collection & Sharing: The lack of standardized data collection and limited data-sharing impedes efficient service delivery and a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Policy & Legislative Gaps: Deficiencies in state human trafficking-specific laws, statutes, and policies, partly due to the lack of centralized response. No Formal Adult Victim Response: While child victims have dedicated resources to use, there is no formal process to support adult trafficking. Resource & Funding Constraints: The need for more resources, evidence-based training, and specialized services, particularly housing, often exceeds available funding. Limited Focus on Labor Trafficking: Current efforts predominantly focus on sex trafficking, with limited attention to the unique needs of labor trafficking victims. Read the full report here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
