Public Sector

A former Wolverhampton councillor did not make up a business or act dishonestly over trying to claim a £10,000 Covid-19 grant with his wife, a court heard.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2022/10/20/former-wolverhampton-councillor-did-not-act-dishonestly-over-fraud-covid-grant-court-hears/

A former senior Wolverhampton councillor and his wife have appeared in court after an appeal was lodged against a fraud conviction relating to a Covid-19 grant.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2022/10/18/former-wolverhampton-councillor-and-wife-appear-in-court-over-covid-grant-fraud-conviction-appeal/

Spending watchdog urges government to allocate sufficient resources to tackle fraud and error

https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/furlough-fraud-error-billions-covid-scheme-hmrc-falling-short-nao-report#.Y01Qpa8evoY.twitter

‘Billions went to people whose incomes increased during the pandemic, and billions more was lost in fraud and error,’ the National Audit Office said.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2022/10/13/covid-furlough-scheme-lost-billions-of-pounds-to-error-and-fraud-says-watchdog/

SCOTLAND'S public spending regulator has told state-controlled ferry purchasers Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and Transport Scotland there is a duty to investigate fraud after claims the awarding of the ferry fiasco contract to tycoon Jim McColl's Ferguson Marine was rigged.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23032360.auditor-general-tells-ministers-duty-investigate-fraud-rigged-ferry-fiasco-contract-award/?ref=twtrec

The UK government has announced plans to rolled out reforms to protect the economy from fraud and money laundering.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/41004/uk-government-launches-fraud-and-money-laundering-crackdown

Colin Gray discusses how to limit fraudulent activity and safeguard citizens amidst Liz Truss’ energy price freeze

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/preventing-fraud-in-liz-truss-energy-price-freeze/143822/

Responsibility of lenders and local authorities to combat the high levels of public money lost to fraudsters and recover COVID-19 grants obtained fraudulently, BEIS says.

https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2022/sept-2022/government-fails-to-inject-urgency-into-counter-fraud-action

A Hertfordshire nurse has been struck off by the NMC after impersonating a patient to obtain a tramadol prescription from a GP surgery.

https://www.nursinginpractice.com/latest-news/hertfordshire-nurse-struck-off-after-impersonating-patient/

A fraudster who posed as a campervan salesman to steal £36,000 from a "vulnerable" pensioner has been jailed for more than five years.

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-09-02/fraudster-posed-as-campervan-salesman-to-steal-36000-from-pensioner