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| 15/9/09 Audit Commission National Report: Protecting the public purse: Local government fighting fraud |
| On Tuesday 15 September the Audit Commission launched their report on “ Protecting the public purse: Local government fighting fraud” The report reviews the key fraud risks and pressures facing councils and related bodies and identifying good practice in fighting fraud. This will be of interest to those in the public and private sectors and covers some of the emerging risks faced by the public sector.” The Link is www.audit-commission.gov.uk/protectingthepublicpurse. |
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| 24/8/09 Dear Community Member This message is sent on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and invites you to have a say in the policing priorities for London in 2011/12. Please feel free to circulate the link to others who may wish to participate. The link will take you to the MPAs website. Thank you Communities Together Strategic Engagement Team (CTSET)
New Scotland Yard .......................................................................................................................... Have your say on policing in London Have your say on policing in London by taking part in this year's consultation questionnaire.
To find out more please visit
Public consultation plays an important part in setting the policing priorities for London. The Metropolitan Police Authority is considering the priorities for 2011/12 and would like to know what you think the police in London should be focusing on. http://www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/policingplans *********************************************************************************** |
| 5/8/09 The London Fraud Forum have received reports of a scam which has been identified by the banking industry and is currently hitting the business sector. This has come from a High Street Bank’s Intelligence Manager so we trust the source. The warning reads: Fraudsters try to divert BACS payments We advise that a previously reported fraud methodology has re-emerged, whereby fraudsters contact a business posing as a supplier and ask for future payments (typically BACS) to be sent to a different bank account. Usually they purport to be a regular trading client who has recently changed their bank account details. The fraudster sends the new details (usually on headed note paper) advising of the changes to their bank account. In good faith, the details are amended by the business, who believe that any funds remitted will still be transferred to the original beneficiary. However, when the next payment is sent, the funds are actually sent to the fraudsters account. The BACS scheme is working with the financial services industry to look at industry wide prevention and awareness initiatives. All businesses are advised to exercise caution when they are asked to amend details on their BACS database, verifying these via existing contact telephone numbers/personnel rather than contact details accompanying the original instruction. Alan Day,Chair, London Fraud Forum. |
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| 20/07/2009 OFCOM | | Ofcom has today launched a campaign to help keep children safe online during the summer holidays. The internet offers a range of opportunities for fun, learning and development at the click of a mouse, but it’s important that parents, carers and children have the right skills and information to help keep them safe online. · Two-thirds of 5-7 year olds now use the internet at home, rising to over three-quarters of 8-11 year olds and over four-fifths of 12-15s. · Of these, one fifth of 5-7 year olds use the internet without an adult present, as do almost half of 8-11 year olds and two-thirds of 12-15s. · 12-15 year olds say they spend an average of nearly 14 hours a week online. · Over a third of 12-15 year olds say they mostly access the internet in their bedroom. During this time they could encounter inappropriate or even potentially harmful content. Find out what you can do to help children enjoy the internet safely this summer by watching or reading Ofcom’s guide to show parents and carers how to use parental controls and filters to manage their children’s access to digital TV and internet content. The guide also encourages parents and carers to talk to their children about what they do on the internet and how to use it safely. The video and guide can be found here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/guides/media/ | |
| 08/12/2008- Business and Enterprise Committee Paper | | | | Thirteenth report of session 2007-08 | | | | The Paper is available from this link | | | | |
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| 08/12/2008- An Article from Computing.co.uk about Companies House at the Mercy of Crooks | | | | The article is available from this link | | | | | | |
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| 3/09/2008 - Security Industry Authority (SIA) - interim Impact Assessment on the Competency Testing aspect of the Licensing of Investigators in the Private Sector | | | The Security Industry Authority (SIA) published their interim Impact Assessment on the Competency Testing aspect of the Licensing of Investigators in the Private Sector yesterday.
The interim Impact Assessment confirms Ministers' intention to develop competency-based licensing, subject to the agreement of the necessary Orders by Parliament
In brief, competency training will be set at NVQ Level 3. All persons who undertake licensable activities covered by the Act will be required to undertake initial 3 days training at a cost of £920, 30% of renewal applicants will need 1 day refresher training.
The Home Office will publish the final Impact Assessment at the same time as the relevant Orders are laid before Parliament.
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| 2/9/2008 - Financial Services Authority issued a consultation paper on changes to the Payment Services Directive Handbook. | | | | In August 2008 the Financial Services Authority issued a consultation paper on changes to the Payment Services Directive Handbook. The deadline for submissions is 28 November 2008. The consultation paper is available from this link. | | | | |
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| 9/07/2008 - Review of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) | | | The results of the review of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was published on 10 June 2008.
The report, produced by former senior New York City prosecutor Jessica de Grazia, contains 34 recommendations.
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| 5/07/2008 - UK Threat Assessment of Serious Organised Crime 2008/09 | | | The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has published The UK Threat Assessment of Serious Organised Crime 2008/09 which describes and assesses the threats posed by serious organised crime.
It includes fiscal, non-fiscal, technology-enabled and identity fraud.
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| 12/05/2008 - Myanmar Cyclone Appeals (Burma) - online exploitation | | | Dr Stephen Hill ( a member of the London Fraud Forum Steering Group) has passed the following message about bogus appeals connected to the
current crisis in Burma.
Charities are coming under increasing attack from fraudsters who try to use their good name to make a lucrative profit. In the light of the tsunami, fraudsters and con artists hit inboxes on a global scale. Scams come in the form of either modified versions of the classic Nigerian
scam letter, or in the form of a more sophisticated phishing operation,in which potential donors receive an email luring them into making donations to a fake website.
These email scams are engineered to exploit the generosity of people who have rushed online to donate money to the relief effort, only to find out that not only does the donation not reach the beneficiaries but
further amounts are likely to be taken as well as the identity of the card holder.
Reduce the risk:
* if you receive a suspicious email purporting to be from a bona
fide charity which requests personal details in relation to a donation,
do not reply to it
* if you receive a link from an email purporting to be a bona fida
charity then don't click on it - contact the charity direct using either
a number or web address you know to be genuine
* use official channels, such as the Disasters Emergency
Committee's website at www.dec.org.uk
* if you find the email is bogus, report it to the police and the
charity concerned
* be vigilant at all times
Should you have any concerns or require any further information on the above then please contact Dr Stephen Hill, e-Crime & Fraud Manager at Chantrey Vellacott DFK (shill@cvdfk.com ) or by
phone 0207 509 9320.
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