Digital Safety, Identity Fraud and Safeguarding Support for Vulnerable People Across the UK

Technology can be used to help people stay connected, independent and safe. Sadly, it can also be used to abuse, control, exploit or defraud vulnerable people.

This guide is for people who may be experiencing digital abuse, identity fraud, financial exploitation, stalking, coercive control, neighbour harassment, online scams, or abuse by someone they know and trust.

This includes abuse by:

Partners or ex-partners
Family members
Neighbours
Carers or support workers
So-called friends
Acquaintances
People helping with money, benefits, housing or care
People who have access to your phone, home, online accounts or personal documents

People with disabilities, older people, people with learning difficulties, people experiencing poor mental health, and socially isolated people can be especially vulnerable to this kind of abuse.

If You Are in Immediate Danger

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.

If you cannot speak on a 999 call, listen to the operator and respond by coughing, tapping the handset, or pressing 55 when prompted. This tells the operator it is a genuine emergency.

Police advice:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help

What Is Digital Abuse?

Digital abuse is when someone uses technology to control, threaten, monitor, harass, intimidate, exploit or harm another person.

Examples include:

Checking your phone without permission
Reading your emails or messages
Tracking your location
Installing spyware or monitoring apps
Using smart cameras, doorbells or speakers to watch you
Controlling your social media
Using your photos or private information against you
Opening accounts in your name
Taking control of online banking
Using your benefits or identity
Pretending to be you online
Sending threatening messages
Harassing you through fake accounts
Sharing personal information without consent

Digital abuse is not only carried out by partners or ex-partners. It can also be done by neighbours, carers, support workers, family members, acquaintances or people pretending to help.

Identity Theft and Identity Fraud

Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information. Identity fraud is when they use that information to commit fraud.

This may include:

Opening bank accounts in your name
Applying for loans or credit cards
Taking out mobile phone contracts
Claiming benefits using your details
Accessing your online accounts
Using your passport, driving licence or National Insurance number
Redirecting your post
Pretending to be you online

Official support:
Report Fraud / Action Fraud:
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/identity-fraud-and-identity-theft/

Report fraud and cyber crime:
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

National Crime Agency fraud advice:
https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/fraud-and-economic-crime

Warning Signs Someone May Be Using Your Identity

You may notice:

Letters about debts you do not recognise
Credit checks you did not request
Bank transactions you did not make
New accounts opened in your name
Missing post
Benefit problems
Unexpected bills
Password reset emails
Messages from companies you do not use
Someone knowing private information they should not know

If this happens, keep records and report it as soon as possible.

Financial Abuse and Online Banking Abuse

Financial abuse can happen when someone controls, steals or misuses your money.

Examples include:

Taking your bank card
Forcing you to share your PIN
Taking control of online banking
Pressuring you to transfer money
Using your benefits
Taking out debt in your name
Stopping you from accessing your own money
Making you pay for things you did not agree to
Using your disability benefits or care money

You should contact your bank immediately if you think your account has been misused. Ask for the fraud team and explain if you are vulnerable or being abused.

You can also report fraud here:
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

Benefit Fraud and Misuse of Personal Information

If someone is using your personal details to make a false benefit claim, or is misusing benefits meant for you, this may be fraud or financial abuse.

Report benefit fraud:
https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

If your own benefits are affected because someone is abusing or controlling you, contact the Department for Work and Pensions or seek advice from a trusted support organisation.

Domestic abuse support from DWP:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-violence-and-abuse-help-from-dwp/help-available-from-the-department-for-work-and-pensions-for-people-who-are-victims-of-domestic-violence-and-abuse

Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control

Domestic abuse can include physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial and controlling behaviour.

It can happen between partners, ex-partners or family members.

Government help:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help

Easy Read version:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help-easy-read-version

Legal aid for domestic abuse:
https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid/domestic-abuse

Court orders and protection:
https://www.gov.uk/injunction-domestic-violence

Abuse by Neighbours, Friends, Carers or People You Trust

Abuse does not always come from a partner or family member.

Vulnerable people may be abused by:

A neighbour who keeps watching or harassing them
A friend who borrows money and never repays it
A carer who uses their phone or bank card
Someone who helps with forms but misuses personal details
A person who enters the home and takes documents
Someone who pretends to help but isolates the person
A support worker who crosses boundaries
Someone who uses disability, age or isolation to exploit them

This can be safeguarding abuse, financial abuse, fraud, harassment or coercive control.

If you are worried about an adult, contact the local council adult safeguarding team, social services or police.

Adult Safeguarding Across the UK

Safeguarding means protecting adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

England

Contact your local council adult safeguarding team.

Find your local council:
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Office of the Public Guardian safeguarding policy:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-policy-protecting-vulnerable-adults

Wales

Report a safeguarding concern about an adult:
https://www.gov.wales/report-safeguarding-concern-about-person-aged-over-18-years

Welsh safeguarding guidance:
https://www.gov.wales/safeguarding-guidance

Safeguarding adults at risk:
https://www.gov.wales/safeguarding-adults-risk-abuse-or-neglect

Scotland

Adult Support and Protection:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/

Adult Support and Protection Act guidance:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/adult-support-protection-scotland-act-2007-code-practice-3/

Northern Ireland

Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/adult-safeguarding-prevention-and-protection-partnership-key-documents

Northern Ireland adult safeguarding policy:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/adult-safeguarding-prevention-and-protection-partnership

Cyber Crime, Hacked Accounts and Online Scams

If your email, phone, social media, banking, or online accounts have been hacked, take action quickly.

National Cyber Security Centre:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/

Help if your account has been hacked:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/recovering-a-hacked-account

Report a scam website:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-website

Report suspicious emails:
Forward scam emails to:
report@phishing.gov.uk

Report scam texts:
Forward scam texts to:
7726

Police cyber crime advice:
https://www.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/online-fraud/cyber-crime-fraud/

Practical Digital Safety Checklist

If safe to do so:

Change passwords from a safe device
Use a password the abuser cannot guess
Turn on two-step verification
Check account recovery emails and phone numbers
Log out of all devices
Check location sharing settings
Review trusted devices
Check banking apps
Check social media privacy
Remove unknown apps
Update your phone and computer
Keep evidence of abuse
Tell a trusted professional if you feel unsafe

Do not change settings suddenly if doing so could put you at greater risk. If someone is monitoring you, seek specialist support first.

Smart Home and Tracking Risks

Check whether someone has access to:

Smart doorbells
Home cameras
Smart speakers
Smart locks
Thermostats
Car tracking apps
AirTags or Bluetooth trackers
Shared family location apps
Child monitoring apps
Cloud photo accounts
Shared calendars

If you are unsure, ask a trusted professional or support organisation for help.

Keeping Evidence Safely

Evidence may be useful for police, housing, safeguarding, court, benefits or legal support.

Keep:

Screenshots
Threatening messages
Emails
Call logs
Bank records
Photos of damage
Names of witnesses
Dates and times of incidents
Account alerts
Fraud letters
Police reference numbers

Store evidence somewhere safe. This could be a new email account, secure cloud account, trusted person, solicitor, police officer or support worker.

Support for Children and Young People

Children can also be affected by digital abuse, domestic abuse, coercive control, tracking apps, shared devices and online harassment.

Report suspected abuse, neglect or harm of a child in Wales:
https://www.gov.wales/report-suspected-abuse-neglect-or-harm-child-or-young-person

NSPCC domestic abuse information:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/domestic-abuse

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Support for People With Disabilities

Disabled people may face extra risks because they may rely on others for:

Communication
Transport
Care
Medication
Money management
Online forms
Device setup
Access to benefits
Housing support

Abuse may involve:

Taking mobility aids
Misusing disability benefits
Controlling communication devices
Accessing private medical information
Using dependence as a threat
Isolating someone from support
Pretending to help while exploiting them

If you are worried about a disabled adult, contact adult safeguarding through the local council, police, social services or a trusted professional.

Find your local council:
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

When to Contact the Police

Contact police if:

You are being threatened
Someone is stalking or harassing you
Someone has stolen money or identity documents
Someone is monitoring you without consent
Someone is using your accounts
Someone has taken out credit in your name
You feel unsafe
A vulnerable adult is being abused

Emergency: 999
Non-emergency: 101

Fraud and cyber crime:
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

In Scotland, fraud should be reported to Police Scotland by calling 101.

Useful Official Links

GOV.UK domestic abuse help:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help

Easy Read domestic abuse guide:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help-easy-read-version

Legal aid:
https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid

Domestic abuse legal aid:
https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid/domestic-abuse

Find your local council:
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Report benefit fraud:
https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

Report fraud and cyber crime:
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

Identity fraud and identity theft:
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/identity-fraud-and-identity-theft/

National Cyber Security Centre:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/

Report scam websites:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-website

Police cyber crime advice:
https://www.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/online-fraud/cyber-crime-fraud/

Wales adult safeguarding:
https://www.gov.wales/report-safeguarding-concern-about-person-aged-over-18-years

Scotland adult support and protection:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/

Northern Ireland adult safeguarding:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/adult-safeguarding-prevention-and-protection-partnership-key-documents

Right First Time UK Message

Right First Time UK believes vulnerable people deserve clear, practical and accessible information to help stay safe.

Digital abuse, identity fraud, financial exploitation and coercive control can happen to anyone, but disabled people, older people, people with care needs and socially isolated adults are often at higher risk.

This guide is designed to help people recognise the signs, know where to report concerns, and find trusted support across the UK.

If you are worried about yourself or someone else, please seek help. You are not alone.