Big Tech will be held accountable for tackling scam ads on their platforms, under proposed new fraud-fighting rules announced today by Ofcom

• Ofcom calls for crackdown on fraudulent adverts online and sets out nearly 40 new safety measures for major sites and apps to adopt
• Rules include banning accounts that post scam ads and making them easier to report - firms “should not drag their heels” and improvements can start now
• Anti-fraud drive part of wider new requirements for the biggest online platforms

A dentist has been found guilty of defrauding the NHS out of more than £92,500 by manipulating more than 1,000 claims for dental work.

Fariba Shameli, 54, previously owned and operated Findon Dental Care in Worthing and was found guilty in a trial which ended yesterday (6 July) at Hove Crown Court, of submitting fraudulent claims to the NHS between March 2013 and June 2018.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/national-news/news/former-dentist-who-defrauded-nhs-out-more-ps92500-found-guilty

Fraud losses from people being tricked into transferring money to scammers surged by nearly a fifth last year, as criminals turn to AI to manipulate victims.

More than half a billion was stolen in 2025 after artificial intelligence created a “lower barrier for entry” for criminals, according to UK Finance.

Criminals managed to trick victims as AI has made it easier for communications to appear more sophisticated, send messages at scale and mimic celebrities or people’s friends and family members to get them to hand over their cash.

https://www.cityam.com/fraud-losses-surge-as-scammers-use-ai-to-manipulate-victims/

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised criminal charges against two people following allegations of an investment scam where a woman transferred £720,000 believing she would receive a substantial return.

Farah Ullah, 43, has been charged with fraud and two counts of transferring criminal property while Syed Hussain, 54, a former West Midlands Police superintendent who has since been dismissed, has been charged with fraud and transferring criminal property.

The pair are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 July 2026.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/two-people-including-former-police-superintendent-charged-connection-ps720000-investment

A company director has been jailed for eight years and one month for being responsible and playing a key role in a nearly £9m investment fraud, which saw the deceptive gaining of money from members of the public.

https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Company+director+jailed+for+key+role+in+a+nearly+9+million+investment+fraud+01062026131000

Ministry of Defence say concerns raised in PAC report “primarily relate" to situation under previous government which is being "turned around"

The Public Accounts Committee has called for “a change of culture” in the Ministry of Defence “so that it treats preventing fraud and economic crime with the attention it requires”.

https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/mps-call-for-stronger-more-visible-counterfraud-leadership-at-mod

The Midlands has been named on a list of top five regional fraud hotspots, new research from BDO shows, as losses to fraud and economic crime hit £5.5bn UK-wide in 2025.

According to BDO's latest annual Fraudtrack report, the Midlands region reported losses close to £110m in 2025, largely driven by management-related and tax-related offences.

The report, which analysed reported UK fraud and economic crime cases valued at £50,000 and above between 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, has revealed a geographical spread of fraud and economic crime.

https://www.insidermedia.com/news/midlands/midlands-named-on-top-five-fraud-hotspot-list-bdo

ABOUT THE REPORT

14th edition of the largest global study on occupational fraud

2,402 real cases of occupational fraud

Data from 143 countries and territories

22 major industry categories included

Explores the costs, schemes, victims and perpetrators of fraud

https://www.acfe.com/fraud-resources/report-to-the-nations?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=20265-RTTN-launch-LinkedIn

Gascoyne appointment follows retirement of Richard Las

Zoe Gascoyne has taken over as director of the Fraud Investigation Service at HM Revenue and Customs, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

Gascoyne, who previously led offshore corporate and wealth operations at the Fraud Investigation Service, will also be the first female chief of the J5 (Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement), which brings together tax fraud enforcement organisations from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK and the US.

Her appointment follows the retirement of Richard Las, who worked for HMRC for more than 30 years.

Ultra Electronics Holdings Ltd (previously PLC) accepts responsibility for failure to prevent bribery and will pay millions to the taxpayer as a penalty.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured a £10 million payment from a British manufacturer of electronic systems for the international defence and aerospace market after it acknowledged accountability for failure to prevent bribery. A judge today approved a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) requiring Ultra Electronics Holdings Ltd to pay the penalty, plus £4.8 million in SFO investigation costs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sfo-secures-10m-from-british-defence-supplier