Fraud: Foreign Nationals

(asked on 29th March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support UK citizens who have been defrauded by individuals who reside in foreign countries.


Answered by
Amanda Milling Portrait
Amanda Milling
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This question was answered on 5th April 2022

Our global network of consular staff endeavour to give appropriate and tailored support to British nationals overseas and their families in the UK 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. What we can and cannot do is set out clearly in:  Support for British nationals Abroad: A Guide,  which is available on gov.uk.  We help around 30,000 British nationals abroad each year. Cases range from supporting those who have lost their passports, been victims of crimes like fraud or robbery, through to complicated long-running consular cases such as people detained overseas.

If a British national is the victim of crime overseas they can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London to request consular assistance. We can provide general information about local police and legal procedures. We cannot give legal advice, but have lists of local English-speaking lawyers and interpreters available on gov.uk. Individuals should consider appointing a local lawyer who can look after their interests in any legal proceedings abroad. Individuals in the UK should report any crimes to the UK police; police forces can cooperate internationally through Interpol.

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