Combat Fraud with a 10-Point Plan

Follow this 10 Point Plan to Combat Economic Crime:

1. Have in place an anti-fraud policy which is easy to understand and circulated throughout all employees of your organisation. Maintain a momentum.

2. Have a nominated team within your organisation which is responsible for all fraud issues, risk management and investigations.

3. Promote systems within your organisation to detect fraud.

4. Adopt appropriate controls and have in place a fraud response plan.

5. Consider fraud as a business risk, take it seriously. Focus on prevention.

6. Provide fraud awareness training for all ensuring an alertness to the indicators of fraud.

7. Install an effective 'whistleblowing' policy. Reward efficiency and reduction in losses.

8. Don't recruit fraudsters in the first place; know your customer/client/employee.

9. Involve and seek advice from your Economic Crime Unit right from the outset or detection of a fraud.

10. Be tough, punish offenders.

Insurance Fraud Bureau - Cheatline

The Insurance Fraud Bureau operates the Fraud Cheatline. Anyone with information on suspected insurance fraud can call this free and confidential helpline - 0800 328 2550 For further information see the Insurance Fraud Bureau Website.

HMRC loss of personal ID data – London Fraud Forum advice

For advice direct from The HMRC they have set up a Child Benefit helpline: 0845 302 1444 Lost details The HMRC has confirmed that the missing data contained sort code and bank account details, national insurance numbers, dates of birth, names and address details of all families in receipt of child benefit, as well as the names and dates of birth of those children for whom child benefit is payable. HMRC would not hold any of your bank security information or passwords. Child Benefit claims Your claims should not be affected, but it is wise to continue to monitor that your receive the benefit payments into your account and if you discover a missing payment inform the HMRC immediately. Bank accounts There is no reason to close your account. The details lost are not in themselves sufficient for an ID fraudster to access your bank account - additional security information and passwords are always required. It maybe though that if you have used personal information for your passwords such as your children’s names, as a precaution it may be worth considering changing you bank security passwords, whether you use internet banking or phone banking. You should always check your bank or credit card statements for fraudulent transactions, but if it is not something you usually do as a matter of course, it would be wise to be more vigilant. If you spot an unfamiliar transaction you should contact your bank, building society or service provider immediately. If you are the innocent victim of banking fraud as a result of this incident, as a UK customer, you are protected by The Banking Code, which means you should not suffer any financial loss as a consequence. Can a fraudster use this data? If CDs containing your personal data do at some stage get into the hands of a fraudster there is a small risk of a fraudster using the details held by HMRC to set up other credit or financial agreements, e.g. mobile phone accounts. If this is an area that causes you concern, you take safe guards though various services offered by the various credit reference agencies and CIFAS. For details see below. If I receive a communication that is unusual from a financial institution or service provider that you have had no dealings with contact that organisation immediately and advise them of this fact. Some warning signs of ID theft and fraud: • Your regular bank or credit card statements fail to appear. • You notice that some of your mail is missing. • You receive a bill or statement for a service or items you have not authorised, purchased or ordered. • A debt collection agency contacts you about goods you have not ordered or an account you have never opened. • You receive a telephone call or letter saying you have been approved or denied credit for accounts you know nothing about. What to do if you wish to protect your self against potential ID fraud or have been a victim of ID fraud: • Contact your bank or the financial organisation concerned and keep a record of all communication. • Contact CIFAS: www.cifas.org.uk They can earmark your name and address with ‘Protective Registration’ so that anyone applying for credit in your name will automatically be double-checked, such as by requests for further proof of identification. • Check with the credit reference agencies detailed below. If applications for credit have been made in your name you can ask to have any incorrect information removed: • Experian: 0870 241 6212 www.experian.co.uk • Equifax: 0870 010 0583 www.equifax.co.uk • Callcredit: 0870 060 1414 callcredit.co.uk/home

London Fraud Forum