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Stop, Think, Fraud |
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Good Morning
"Stop! Think Fraud" Website Information: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/
is the official UK national campaign against fraud, launched in February 2024 to provide a single, unified voice for anti-fraud advice. West Midlands Police (WMP) actively supports this campaign as part of its wider strategy to tackle the region's rising fraud and cybercrime rates, which accounted for approximately 41% of all crime nationally by late 2024.
The Three Steps to Safety The campaign is built around three simple, actionable instructions to follow whenever you are contacted unexpectedly: Stop: Take a moment to pause before parting with your money or personal information. Think: Challenge the request. Is it genuine? Could it be a scam? Remember that only criminals will try to rush or panic you. Check: Verify the contact. If someone claims to be from a trusted organisation like your bank or the police, hang up and contact them directly using a known, official number (e.g., the number on the back of your bank card).
West Midlands Specific Initiatives As of early 2026, West Midlands Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) have introduced additional localized measures: Public Health Approach: The West Midlands launched the UK’s first "public health approach" to fraud, focusing on prevention, education, and unified partnership across the region. Money Mules Campaign: Targeted at young people in the West Midlands to prevent them from being exploited by criminals to move illicit funds. Victims’ Code Innovation Fund: Launched in January 2026, this fund provides grants to grassroots projects that help victims in the West Midlands understand their rights and access support. Pension Fraud Warnings: Recent 2025/2026 alerts from the WMP Cyber Crime Unit highlight that over £518,000 was lost to pension scams in the West Midlands in just one year.
Critical Contact Information Call 159: If you receive a suspicious call about your finances, hang up and dial 159 to be connected directly and securely to your bank's fraud department. Report to Action Fraud: Report all fraud and cybercrime to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
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