Frauds

With more people working at home, it may be easier for fraudsters to impersonate senior decision makers, with seemingly valid reasons why they cannot be contacted, and request a change in a direct debit, standing order or bank transfer mandate, by purporting to be an organisation you make regular payments to. The change they ask you to make will divert funds to their own bank account. Attached is a helpful graphic with protection advice.

https://midlandsfraudforum.wildapricot.org/sys/website/system-pages/?pageId=18010

A MARRIED couple who committed benefit fraud to fleece the taxpayer out of over £30,000 have had their jail sentences overturned on appeal.

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/regional/18349199.benefit-fraudster-couple-hold-hands-avoid-jail-appeal/?ref=twtrec

A York woman has been fined over £800 at court after being found guilty to railway offences and breaching the new coronavirus restrictions, following the first arrest of its kind on the railway network.

https://www.yorkmix.com/york-woman-first-to-be-arrested-under-new-coronavirus-transport-laws/

Shoppers will be able to make contactless card payments with a new higher limit of up to £45 per transaction from Wednesday.

Payment fraud set to grow as more shoppers move online, while the coronavirus is opening up immediate scams that merchants need to be aware of

https://internetretailing.net/themes/ecommerce-losses-to-online-payment-fraud-to-exceed-25bn-annually-by-2024-21191

There has been a spike in pension scams as fraudsters eye the growing coronavirus crisis as an opportunity.

https://www.ftadviser.com/your-industry/2020/03/23/warning-on-pension-scams-as-covid-fraud-jumps/

Former pensions minister Ros Altmann has called for pension transfers to be put on hold for six months, as fund values could be inaccurate due to the current market turmoil.

https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2020/03/23/altmann-calls-for-six-months-pension-transfer-hiatus/

The Pensions Administration Standards Association has created a cyber crime and fraud working group, aimed at creating standards to better protect pension schemes and their members.

https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2020/03/25/pasa-launches-cyber-crime-and-fraud-working-group/

As criminals seek to capitalise on the Covid-19 pandemic, we are being urged to be more vigilant against fraud, particularly about sharing financial and personal information.

https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2020/03/27/warning-issued-over-fraud-and-scams-during-covid-19-pandemic/

In 2019, there were 122,437 cases of APP fraud in the UK. Banks lost £456 million.

https://www.cbronline.com/news/anti-fraud-deadline