Frauds

A WOMAN has been charged with fraud after allegedly trying to obtain £10,000 from vulnerable elderly people.

Pension-related scams made up 16 per cent of all suspicious communications reported throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, according to analysis by Aviva, representing a 3 per cent increase since 1 March.

https://pensionsage.com/pa/Pension-scams-increase-amid-lockdown-investment-fraud-remains-prominent-threat.php

Mobileum Inc. (“Mobileum”), a leading global provider of analytics-based roaming, telco security, risk management and testing solutions, released the findings of an industry survey today, which found that 75% of operators polled were experiencing new or emerging incidences of fraud and 61% said network security threats increased or significantly increased since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. At their recent WeMeet Virtual user event, Mobileum surveyed more than 200 executives from 90 Communications Service Providers (CSPs) on the effect of COVID-19 on their operations.

Increases in fraud during COVID-19 - The upsurge in online fraud attempts during the COVID-19 lockdown is part of a long-term upward trend, internationally, observed in all sectors. According to PWC, 47% of businesses worldwide have been victims of fraud in the past 24 months. Action Fraud, the UK’s National Fraud and Cybercrime Reporting Centre has received more than 2,500 reports of coronavirus-related scams, mostly online, totalling almost £9 million in losses.

Identity theft is a problem for businesses and individuals everywhere

https://www.techradar.com/news/identity-theft-keeping-fraudsters-at-bay

The purpose of this research is to better understand the ways in which romance fraud happens against individuals. In particular, this stage of the research seeks to understand the different methods used by offenders to get what they want.

https://research.qut.edu.au/romance-fraud/

Statistically, most cybercriminals tend to eschew “important” and high-value targets. It’s the vast numbers of easy (and easily distracted) targets that are most prominently in their crosshairs. That is true at the best of times, but the Covid-19 pandemic has only intensified and emboldened their hunt for the susceptible and vulnerable.

https://www.techradar.com/news/how-to-guard-against-identity-theft-in-times-of-increasing-online-fraud

A social worker who took more than £550,000 from people in her care has today been jailed for more than seven years.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/social-worker-jailed-emptying-bank-accounts-two-people-her-care

A suspected crash-for-cash fraudster has been arrested as an investigation by West Midlands Police into an insurance scam gang gathers pace.

Gerard Lee Bevan bankrupted a stockbroker and an insurer, wiping out shareholders and partners alike.