The Fraud and Corporate Crime Group will host a Fraud Victim Support Group at Police Headquarters this Saturday, June 9, to assist victims and help them recover from what is not just financial loss.
The group will meet on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, City, at 2.30pm and is open to any victims of fraud.
Victims of fraud will share their experiences to help others who have faced a similar plight but not yet found the path forward. This informative afternoon will deliver real life experiences from survivors of various types of frauds and scams.
“The reality is that fraud affects thousands of Queenslanders and many suffer their pain in silence for fear of humiliation, embarrassment or loss of financial independence,” Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group said.
The purpose of the meeting is to:
• Promote the group;
• Encourage victims to speak up and give them back their voice;
• Help victims recover their self-esteem ;
• Educate the community about fraud, its effects and that anyone can be targeted;
• Provide skills to community members to help prepare them against online predators;
• Provide an environment where victims will not be judged; and
• Turn “victims” into “survivors” through self empowerment.
The Victims of Fraud Support Group was born from the efforts of the Queensland Police Service’s Fraud and Corporate Crime Group who recognised the need to support people who had been victimised by fraudulent criminal predators.
“It was identified that the many victims of fraud within our community suffer in silence. They have lost everything and find themselves unable to discuss it with anyone for fear of being branded stupid and greedy,” Detective Superintendent Hay said.
“Some may have also been fleeced in a romance fraud, so not only have they lost money, but they have had their heart broken and have been stripped of their self esteem. Depression is also commonplace and many have attempted or considered suicide.
“We established the group a little while back and it has been successful in helping people by introducing them to others who understand what they have experienced and who will not judge them. Their recovery when they have been exposed to this sort of a group is amazing.
“We would certainly invite anyone along who has been the victim of fraud, regardless of the amount or severity. There is no pressure to speak with many people just listening to other survivors at past forums.”
If you would like more information about the event contact the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group on 3364 6622.
Registration commences at 2pm with the forum commencing at 2.30pm.
Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day. Crime Stoppers is a charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.
