Victim Impact: Building Support for Scam Victims | Global Anti-Scam Summit London 2025

Date of Event: 26-27 March 2025

Event: Global Anti-Scam Summit London 2025

For victims of scams, the trauma extends far beyond financial losses. Stigma, isolation, and a lack of proper support often make the aftermath even more painful than the crime itself.

As part of the Global Anti-Scam Summit London 2025, this workshop, hosted by Euroconsumers and Which?, brought together survivors and experts to explore what genuine, long-term support for scam victims should look like.

The session opened with testimonies from Cecilie Fjellhøy, Co-Founder of LoveSaid, and Anna Rowe, Founder of Catch the Catfish and Co-Founder of LoveSaid. Both spoke about their experiences of romance fraud, the psychological pressure they faced, and the barriers to receiving effective support. They described how, beyond the fraud itself, the response from institutions can add further distress.

Dr. Elisabeth Carter, Associate Professor of Criminology and Forensic Linguist at Kingston University, examined the role of language in fraud. She highlighted how scammers build trust and control victims, and how public messaging and institutional responses often place blame on victims instead of focusing on the methods used by offenders.

Wayne Stevens, National Fraud Lead at Victim Support UK, and Neill Postins, Service Delivery Manager at the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit, City of London Police, described the challenges faced by support services. They discussed the importance of first responders in recognising victims and providing access to help at an early stage.

Matt Niblett, Senior Policy Adviser at Which?, presented findings that compared the emotional impact of scams to the financial losses. He noted that the psychological damage is often greater, and argued for public policy to address this gap.

The session also included contributions from Kole Gjikolaj, Member of the Childnet Youth Advisory Board, who shared a youth perspective on scams and their consequences.

Giles Derrington, Senior Government Relations and Public Policy Manager at TikTok, and Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet, discussed the role of digital platforms in prevention and education.

The discussion showed that meaningful support requires action across law enforcement, financial services, government, and community organisations. It is not only about prevention, but also about making recovery possible for those affected.

Watch the full session below to hear directly from the speakers and gain valuable insights into how we can build lasting support for scam victims.