Fraud detection is improving

Police in Perthshire are performing better than last year when detecting fraud, it has been revealed.

A Freedom of Information request has shown that in 2017/18 so far, police have detected 61 per cent of all fraud cases in the region.

This current figure shows that the service is performing better than last year, during which they recorded a 44.6 per cent detection rate.

Three quarters of the way through the year, the total number of fraud cases throughout the Perth and Kinross area was currently at 113 - only eight cases short of the final figure for the whole of year 2016/17.

Police revealed the total number of fraud cases within the area since 2012 was 892.

Of those, officers have managed to identify 473 perpetrators, meaning that police have solved more than 53 per cent of cases in the last six years.

The Perthshire Advertiser has publicised a number of alleged fraud cases from across Perth and Kinross over the past year, and police have repeatedly urged all residents to be vigilant to telephone fraudsters and scammers who are looking to get obtain confidential information such as bank details.

Anyone who thinks they may have been be a victim of fraud should contact Police Scotland on 101.

Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.