Universal Credit claimants who use any type of social media are being warned about how they use it amid a crackdown by the Department of Work and Pensions.

A 2,000 strong DWP team launched last year aiming to crackdown on benefit fraud.

https://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/news/23688768.dwp-universal-credit-claimants-warned-use-social-media/

Piloted in London, the Action Fraud National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) provides victims of fraud and cybercrime with bespoke and specialist advice to help them protect themselves from falling victim again.

Since 2018, it has engaged with almost 350,000 victims and prevented an estimated £2,882,616 being lost to fraud.

https://www.policeprofessional.com/news/specialist-unit-to-support-vulnerable-fraud-victims-rolled-out-across-all-forces/

The cost-of-living crisis is encouraging “opportunistic” personal injury fraud, with “professional enablers” designing “cynical ‘conveyor belt’ processes” to maximise fake or exaggerated injuries, according to a leading law firm.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/professional-enablers-fuelling-opportunistic-personal-injury-fraud

The Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) has launched an inquiry into the collapse of the Norton pension schemes, with the aim of ensuring members of collapsed pension schemes are better protected and supported in the future.

https://pensionsage.com/pa/WPC-launches-inquiry-into-Norton-pension-schemes-and-fraud-compensation-fund.php

A British Asian woman was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing nearly £1 million from her employer to help her online lover who did not exist.

Manjit Singh, 60, from Toxteth, was sentenced by Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (17) after she confessed to eight counts of fraud, according to reports.

https://www.easterneye.biz/romance-fraud-british-asian-woman-jailed-for-stealing-1m-from-employer/

The latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) for the year ending March 2023 show that total crime fell by 15 per cent compared with pre-Covid 19 pandemic levels.

However, despite no significant change in fraud overall, there was a 549 per cent increase in advance fee fraud (from 60,000 to 391,000 offences) compared with the year ending March 2020.

https://www.policeprofessional.com/news/overall-crime-down-but-figures-show-six-fold-increase-in-advance-fee-fraud/

A man has admitted 19 charges of fraud – worth nearly £2 million.

Christopher Peach, 51, formerly of the Black Lion Hotel, on Scotland Street, Ellesmere, pleaded guilty to 19 fraud charges at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Wednesday morning.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2023/07/19/man-admits-19-fraud-charges--worth-nearly-2m/

A new report from HMRC has revealed £110 million of fraud and error in R&D tax relief claimed by SMEs in the construction sector in 2020-21.

The new figures have been released ahead of the introduction of tighter rules which come into force from August this year.

https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/hmrc-uncovers-ps110m-of-fraud-and-error-in-construction-rd-claims

In this contributed piece, Sameer Hajarnis, Chief Product Officer at OneSpan, discusses the growing threat of digital identity theft and how best to protect yourself, as well the future of digital identities.

The digital world touches everything we do: work, shopping, even your wallet. And the one thing that keeps your digital life secure is your identity. So what makes up your digital identity?

https://www.digit.fyi/comment-digital-identity-theft/

The government’s national fraud strategy, published on May 3, is the latest in a lengthy series of official documents bemoaning, analysing and attempting to address fraud – an epidemic now accounting for 40 per cent of all crime.

https://www.ftadviser.com/regulation/2023/07/17/govt-s-fraud-strategy-welcomed-but-resources-boost-is-crucial-to-success/