In one of the most obvious circumstances in which things seem to continuously go from bad to worse, victims of fraudulent behavior must often deal with untold consequences stemming from something well beyond their control. Fraud takes many forms, but it most often involves a scheme in which victims are most acutely affected from a financial perspective. In the instances in which fraudsters seek personal data or other information, it is almost always the case that this type of activity leads to some sort of financial consequence as well, so it is quite well known precisely how victims of fraud are affected in relation to financial loss.

Economists have looked into this issue from many angles, evaluating the cost of fraud and other scams in terms of the effects on taxpayers, law enforcement resources and consumer confidence, among a host of other potential economic consequences. The Hospital Group has added that there is a medical cost to consider as well, as being victimized by fraudsters and scammers can lead to health care consequences on both a short- and long-term basis. For victims of fraud, this information will likely not come as much of a surprise, as many victims report increased feelings of anxiety, while others also find that they feel a greater sense of general distrust.

With such intense focus on reducing health care costs on a nationwide basis by encouraging increased physical activity and improved dietary habits, it is important not to overlook some of the other influencing factors that similarly lead to negative health consequences and increased medical costs. According to The Hospital Group, there is much that needs to be done to create an efficient system in which fraudulent behavior is prevented on a much larger scale, and individuals who have already experienced adverse health effects in the aftermath of fraud must be able to understand the type of medical care that is available to them.

Prevention is perhaps the most important and most difficult task relating to fraudsters and scammers, as these individuals often employ highly sophisticated strategies that can only be recognized after it has already been utilized in an act of fraud. While this is indeed a complex issue, there is still a great deal that can be accomplished in terms of ensuring better protection against fraud, data breaches and outright theft. With greater protection in place, people will feel more confident and will not allow their behavior to be influenced by the possibility of being victimized. For those who have already been affected by fraudulent behavior, knowing that enhanced protections are in place may minimize some of the adverse health consequences they have already experienced.

Of course, victims of fraud should have access to the kind of care that allows them to address any lingering feelings of anxiety over having been victimized, and it is also quite important that these victims are able to seek assistance in managing any stress stemming from their experience. The availability of adequate medical care after the fact is clearly important, but there are also policy measures that can be enacted or improved upon that will further aid in reducing the need for medical care or will at least reduce the extent of the medical care that is ultimately required.

The Hospital Group has continued to note that a lot of the stress and anxiety so clearly associated with being victimized by fraud can be greatly reduced by having policies in place that provide victims with as close to an immediate resolution as possible. While more research is still necessary, it is believed that victims of credit card fraud experience far less stress and anxiety when their provider is able to immediately restore the affected line of credit and assure the victim that they will not be held financially responsible. If fraud resolution involves a lengthy and frustrating process, then victims tend to experience greater levels of anxiety that seem to be in direct relation to the time required to achieve a resolution, so a speedy process in response to acts of fraud is of paramount importance in reducing the potential medical costs associated with being victimized by fraud.