“You’re not alone”: the use of peer support groups for fraud victims

ABSTRACT

The impact of fraud on an individual victim can have devastating consequences. Not only do victims experience a financial loss, but in many cases the impacts extend to their physical health and emotional wellbeing as well potentially enduring relationship breakdown, unemployment, homelessness and in extreme cases, suicide or suicide ideation. Despite the prevalence of fraud victimisation globally, and its severe consequences, there are limited support services available to victims to assist with their recovery.

This article explores a case study of an Australian jurisdiction and the establishment of a face-to-face peer support group targeted exclusively at fraud victims. Based on interviews with fraud victims prior to the commencement of the support group and then one year after the establishment of the support group, this article highlights both the benefits and challenges of this peer support model. Though exploratory in nature, the article concludes with the need to provide greater levels of support to fraud victims and considers the role of face-to-face peer support groups as a means to achieve this.

KEYWORDS:

• Fraud
• peer support
• victim support
• support group
• romance fraud

Acknowledgments

Sincere appreciation is extended to the victims who took part in this project and shared insights from their own victimisation journeys. The author wishes to thank members of the Western Australia Police and the (former) West Australian Department of Commerce for their support in undertaking this project. However the views expressed in this paper are those of the author alone, and do not necessarily represent either of these organisations. All errors and omissions are the responsibility of the author. The author also wishes to thank Alexandra Britton and Edward McMurchy for their assistance in transcribing the interviews as well as preparation of the literature review.

Declarations of interest

No declarations of interest

Additional information

Funding

None received