Public Sector

Dumfries and Galloway Council is exploring if illegal activities contributed to the council losing more than £3m on a road maintenance contract.

 vhttps://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/66090/fraud-probe-into-council-s-3m-loss-on-road-contract

Detectives from the Met’s Economic Crime Unit have launched an investigation after two men were arrested for money laundering offences in Kensington.

The coronavirus crisis could “open the door” to fraudsters seeking to exploit the council, as they believe “money is available and controls may not be as strong as normal”, a report says.

Audit Scotland has identified more than £15m in potential fraud and errors across Scotland’s public sector in the past two years, with auditors warning the pandemic has brought “additional fraud risks”.

Audit Scotland compared data held about different individuals at different public bodies to identify issues like housing benefit fraud.

The coronavirus crisis could “open the door” to fraudsters seeking to exploit the council, as they believe “money is available and controls may not be as strong as normal”, a report says.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2020/07/08/covid-crisis-could-open-door-to-fraud-claims-council-report/

It has been reported that anti-fraud organisations and white-collar crime experts have raised significant concerns about potential for loss to the public purse as a result of fraudulent claims for Coronavirus bounce back loans.

https://www.twobirds.com/en/news/articles/2020/global/fraud-risks-for-businesses-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan-scheme 

6 July 2020: The National Audit Office reports that overpayments from fraud and error reached their highest ever estimated rate in 2019-20. COVID-19-driven claims since March are likely to increase this even further.

Top white collar crime experts urge publication of companies so checks can be made on borrowers

2 July 2020: A government report has stressed the importance of best practice in reducing fraud, particularly at a time of heightened council activity and less stringent controls in operation.