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Research into online fraud against children and young people

Crest Advisory is partnering with the City of London Police to research online fraud against children and young people aged 10 to 21 in England and Wales. This research has been funded by Science and Technology in Policing (STAR).

Why are we carrying out this research?
 

Fraud and cyber crime against children and young people (CYP) has risen substantially in recent years and emerging evidence suggests that fraud victimisation is growing among under 21s. However, despite this evidence, research on online fraud against young people remains limited.

As a result, our research intends to develop the overall understanding of online fraud against young people and will help us establish a clear action plan. This plan will include practical recommendations to tackle the problem with the aim of enhancing policing’s ability to respond to the most commonly experienced crime in England and Wales - online fraud.

What is the research?
 

The key areas we will consider include:

 

  • How many children and young people are affected by fraud and cyber crime?

  • What is the nature of online fraud that involves children and young people?

  • What is the impact of online fraud on children and young people?

  • What are the links with other crimes?

  • What are the personal characteristics that may make children and young people more vulnerable to online fraud?

  • Where are the opportunities to protect children and young people from fraud and cyber crime victimisation?

How will we conduct the research?
 

Our research will consist of four phases:

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  1. Analysis of data held by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. This will help us to understand the scale and nature of fraud, and the personal characteristics of victims.

  2. Analysis of two nationally representative surveys completed by parents/guardians and children and young people. The surveys will be analysed to help us understand the scale, nature and impact of fraud and cyber crime from both perspectives.

  3. Interviews conducted with victims of fraud aged 10 - 21 years. These will help us to explore the nature and impact of victimisation, reporting behaviours, and intervention points.

  4. Co-design workshops to review our early recommendations. These will be held with children and young people and parents and guardians, alongside those with a background or expertise in policing fraud and cybercrime or relevant areas.

Get in touch with us

Contact Project Lead Madeline Rolfe at madeline.rolfe@crestadvisory.com to ask any questions you may have about the research or to register your interest in getting involved.

Participate in an interview with us

As part of the third phase of our research Crest Advisory is looking to conduct interviews with those who have been a victim of fraud between the ages of 10 and 21.

We will be carrying out these interviews over the coming month with the aim of exploring the nature and impact of victimisation, reporting behaviours, and intervention points.

Who can participate in an interview?

  • Individuals aged 10 to 21 years of age;

  • who have personally experienced online fraud (a trick or lie committed using technology to steal money or personal information);

  • and experienced this after they turned 10 years of age.

What will we do with the answers you give in an interview?

  • The answers may be published in our report on how best to protect children and young people from online fraud but all of the answers will be completely anonymous.

    This means that readers of our report will not be able to link what was said to the individual

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If you are interested in participating in an interview, or know of someone who may be interested, please contact Madeline Rolfe at madeline.rolfe@crestadvisory.com.

We understand that it can be difficult to talk about this topic, especially if you have been personally affected. It is the choice of the participant to be interviewed and they will be able to change their mind at any time. Compensation will be provided to the participants.

Definitions

Online fraud

Fraud and cyber crime covers a wide range of offences. For the purposes of this research, fraud and cyber crime against children and young people is defined as:

  • A crime;

  • which involves a trick or lie;

  • is committed using computers or is assisted by technology;

  • involves money or personal information;

  • the victim is between 10 to 21 years old at the time of the offence.

National Fraud Intelligence Bureau

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) sits alongside Action Fraud within the City of London Police - the national policing lead for economic crime.

Action Fraud

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime.

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