Fraud fight fillip for UK

A new agency for combating fraud is now in operation across the country to help counter everything from identity theft to wine fraud.

Action Fraud is the UK’s first centralised national fraud reporting and advice service and was initially launched in the North West and the Midlands in February this year. Its service now covers all of England and Wales but not Scotland.

Its website declares it is there for anyone who has been “scammed, ripped off or conned”.

The Metropolitan and City of London police are currently investigating several cases of wine investment fraud but up until Action Fraud was founded, reports of wrongdoing were made individually to local constabularies.

This meant there was often no clear idea of the scale of any problems and previous investigations were uncoordinated.

The new service will allow police forces to see the bigger picture and track suspects and scams more accurately.

The centre is supported by the National Fraud Authority, the Attorney General’s Office, the City of London Police, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office.

To report suspected fraud call the hotline on +44 (0) 300 123 2040 or fill in a form online: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

For an overview of common scams with links to detailed guides on each type of fraud, visit: http://ctech.link/avoid-scams

Rupert Millar, 13.05.2010