Frauds

Hoteliers have been urged to take extra care when verifying bookings following a rise in fake reservations being made through Booking.com website.

https://www.thecaterer.com/news/hotels-warning-booking.com-fake-reservation-fraud

Lettings agents face significant fraud risk. New technology can help agents combat fraud. But how should agents use such digital tools to spot potential red flags and mitigate the risks?

https://propertyindustryeye.com/how-can-technology-help-agents-combat-fraud/

The UK is facing a pension fraud crisis that could see millions scammed out of their life savings, according to research.

A report by data and technology specialist LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Pension sector faces looming fraud crisis, warns that, as digital pension services come online, pension holders’ greater access to cash from retirement savings is leaving them vulnerable to scams.

https://www.theactuary.com/2023/05/24/warning-cyber-pension-fraud-crisis-horizon

Bass-heavy techno plays, police sirens blare, and men in flak jackets and helmets lead a suspect away in handcuffs. It’s not a late-night crime drama – it’s a public service announcement from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/track-down-government-message-welfare-153425275.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr

The amount of money lost through holiday fraud has more than doubled in just 12 months, according to the UK’s scams reporting centre.

Action Fraud said victims reported losing a total of £15.3 million in the 2022/23 financial year, compared to £7.4 million in 2021/22.

A solicitor who suggested a dishonest scheme that would allow his client to commit benefit fraud – and enrich himself – has been struck off.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitor-put-forward-benefit-fraud-scheme-to-client

The pensions sector is facing a looming digital pension fraud crisis that could see millions of pensioners scammed out of their retirement savings, according to a report from LexisNexis Risk Solutions and the Pensions Administration Standards Association (Pasa).

https://pensionsage.com/pa/Report-warns-of-looming-digital-pension-fraud-crisis.php

A police officer and her boyfriend have been jailed for selling dying kittens in a £280,000 scam.

Former British Transport Police officer, Amy Byrne, 30, and her partner, Harry Angell, 31, bought and bred kittens to sell from £50. On some occasions, the couple charged more than £1,500.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/police-officer-boyfriend-jailed-after-29979431

Despite efforts to tackle scammers, pension fraud remains rampant. As many as one in four pension savers are at risk of an attack, according to helpandadvice.co.uk, a consumers’ adviser.

https://moneyweek.com/personal-finance/605888/avoid-pension-fraud

A fraudster made more than £64,000 from the benefits system having claimed to be broke despite sitting on a six-figure bank balance.

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2023/05/12/benefit-fraudster-claimed-64k-despite-six-figure-bank-balance/