Fraud
Information for businesses
Business has a role to play in combating crime and a great deal of fraud can be prevented if businesses take suitable measures to ensure that they have a fraud strategy and that their systems are not vulnerable to fraud either by employess or from external sources. It is clearly an advantage if fraud can be prevented rather than having to deal with the consequences.
In this area of the website you will find information about:
"Your Business - keep crime out of it" a risk assessment booklet for business, a Crime Reduction Centre Publication. The booklet provides information to help businesses survey their premises and systems to identify areas in which they might be vulnerable. It includes some advice on information security, maintaining secure computer systems and writing a security plan.
E-tailing mini site which contains information about best practice in e-commerce for businesses, members of the public and crime reduction practitioners.
Where can I find out more?
APACS is a non competitive banking and card industry body that works to prevent fraud. There is an APACS website and the organisation also runs the Cardwatch website which provides useful information on fraud prevention for retailers, cardholders, the police and the media.
The Fraud Advisory Panel is an independent body of volunteers drawn from the law and accountancy, banking, insurance, commerce, regulators, the police, government departments and public agencies. Its stated role is to alert the nation to the immense social and economic damage caused by fraud and help both public and private sectors to fight back. The Panel publishes a number of useful documents including a booklet about fighting fraud for SME's.
The DTI Best Practice in Business site contains lots of information for businesses, particularly about information security. See the IT and e-commerce sections.
The e-tailing mini site is part of the government's crime reduction website. It provides links to examples of good practice in safe online trading. There is information about safe trading, IT security, and regulations relating to e-commerce.
Regional Fraud Forums
In a number of areas across the country local businesses have joined with the local police to establish a Regional Fraud Forum. These fraud forums are partnership organisations for police annd local businesses to share information and best practice with the aim of promoting fraud awarenessand creating successful fraud prevention strategies across public and private sector. The first fraud forum was launched in the North East in 2003 by Northumbria Police. You can find out more, including whether there is a fraud forum in your area, on the North East Fraud Forum website.
Last update: Thursday, May 15, 2008