Exploratory research to examine the impact of fraud on victim health

Globally, there has been a significant rise and diversification in fraud that is targeting individual members of the public. Research evidence has shown that victims suffer harm as a consequence of fraud victimisation. However, few studies have focused on how fraud impacts on victim health, despite the importance of health in policy assessments and the design of victim support services. Furthermore, there are conceptual questions on how to operationalise and assess ‘impact’ as it is subjectively experienced by different victims. Using survey data collected from 311 victims of fraud in the United Kingdom, this study uses quantitative and qualitative analyses to explore the health impact of fraud from three perspectives: the type, composition and intensity of health symptoms that are experienced; the wider impact of these on the lives of victims; and the capacity of victims to cope or recover from the experience. The research shows that most victims experience a health symptom (most commonly emotional or psychological), but the profile, intensity, and impact on wider life is highly variable. In addition, a cohort of victims reported symptoms over longer time periods and a significant minority had wanted support or treatment to address the impact on their health. The implications of these findings for further research and policies are discussed.