The Hampshire Constabulary Economic Crime Unit is highlighting new national research showing that over 77 per cent of all victims reporting investment fraud are men with an average age of 65.
That’s according to figure published as part of a campaign led by Action Fraud and the City of London Police, which is also emphasising how the average loss suffered is more than £32,000; an amount greater that the current average national salary of £27,270.
Last year saw a 9.5 per cent increase in UK-wide investment fraud reports to Action Fraud, rising from 2,910 in 2014/15 to 3,186 in 2015/16.
The City of London Police, the nation-al lead force for fraud, are taking action with partner agencies to act on infor-mation suggesting criminals are operating ‘boiler rooms’ in new target areas.
Fleet in Hampshire was one location for a search warrant executed by the Money Laundering Investigation Unit to disrupt suspected boiler rooms this month as part of Operation Broadway.
The county’s Economic Crime Unit has been supporting efforts to raise pub-lic awareness of fraud prevention advice alongside real stories from victims, helping more people to take the most effective measures to protect themselves.
Detective Inspector Tom Bradshaw said: "We know that some members of the public can be reluctant at first to accept they have become victims of in-vestment frauds because of the embarrassment, particularly older people who may feel their pride or independence has been undermined."