Latest Financial Crime & Scamming News

Conor Burns MP launches new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Crime and Scamming

The Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns MP, has this week launched a new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Crime and Scamming.

Fraud is currently the number one volume crime in the UK. The most recent Office of National Statistics England and Wales Crime Survey showed that there were 3.3 million fraud offences that took place in the year to June 2017. The Crime Survey also estimated that 56% of these occurred online.

Figures from the UK’s fraud prevention service, Cifas, showed that 172 frauds occurred in Bournemouth West last year and there were 106 victims in the constituency.  

Cifas will also be providing the Secretariat for this group.

Conor said:

“I am delighted to be setting up and chairing such an important cross-party group. The numbers of frauds and scams are on the rise and can affect any single one of us. Numerous constituents have contacted me with their harrowing cases of being victims of fraud and scams.

“I am also pleased that the UK’s fraud prevention service, Cifas, have agreed to be the Group’s secretariat.

This new All-Party Parliamentary Group will look into the causes of this crime, how society can better prevent it, and will challenge for policy changes where needed in the private and public sector to prevent this crime.”

Chief Executive of Cifas, Simon Dukes, said

“Financial crime is a growing problem. Policymakers across the board need to consider how best to offer a proportionate response to what is the most prevalent crime in the UK. This group will provide a platform for MPs and Peers to challenge government, the police and industry and to find a way forward for society

“I am delighted that Conor Burns MP has set up this important group and that Cifas will be providing secretarial support. It is important that parliamentarians will be looking more closely into how society can prevent more fraud and financial crime and protect citizens from this crime.”

Ends –

For more information please contact:

Office of Conor Burns MP – Dan Patten on daniel.patten@parliament.uk or 020 7219 7021

Cifas – Ross Archer on ross.archer@cifas.org.uk or 020 3004 3647

About Cifas:

Cifas aims to make the UK a safer place, by enabling organisations in every sector to prevent fraud and by protecting the public through the sharing of confirmed fraud data.

Cifas is a not-for-profit organisation and has over 420 members spanning the public and private sectors. In 2016 alone, Cifas members prevented over £1.1 billion of avoidable fraud losses by using Cifas databases. Cifas also offers Protective Registration for individuals whose identities are at risk of being used fraudulently, for instance after a burglary.

In 2014, Cifas launched a scheme called Protecting the Vulnerable. This service is offered free of charge to local authorities to protect those under the care of Court Deputies who are unable to access financial products and whose identities may be at risk.

Visit www.cifas.org.uk for more information.

1st December 2017