Access to justice for victims of online crime

The project examines the right to access to justice for victims of online fraud. Through interviews with victims and professionals in eight Member States (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Sweden), FRA is collecting data to address the challenges that victims of online fraud and related crimes face in practice when seeking to exercise their rights.
Project Status
Ongoing
Project start date
1
November
2024

What?

The project examines the right to access to justice for victims of online fraud. Through interviews with victims and professionals in eight Member States (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Sweden), FRA is collecting data to address the challenges that victims of online fraud and related crimes face in practice when seeking to exercise their rights.

Why?

With the increased shift of everyday activities to the online environment, more individuals fall victim to crimes committed online. Online fraud represents a major crime threat in the EU which has a cross-border dimension and significant financial and emotional impact on its victims. The ProtectEU Strategy calls for more targeted law enforcement actions and highlights the need to support and protect online fraud victims more effectively, announcing the development of targeted Action Plan against Online Fraud as well as a new EU Strategy on Victims’ Rights.  

How?

The project collects information via desk research and interviews with victims, representatives of law enforcement and judicial authorities, as well as defence lawyers, companies, and other relevant stakeholders, such as victim support services. The interviews are carried out in eight Member States with the objective to collect information concerning promising practices and practical ways to address the challenges that victims of online fraud, and related crimes, face in practice when seeking to exercise their rights.

Findings

Comparative report and country studies scheduled for publication in 2026.