WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

Every country would agree that fraud is a shared global problem, so why is there not a collaborative effort to tackle it?

And which types of fraud have soared since the pandemic?

Stephen Cole speaks to a fraud Professor to find out.

MEET THE EXPERT

Professor Mark Button is Director of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth.

He is a fellow of the Security Institute and received his doctorate from the London School of Economics.

In addition to fraud and computer misuse, Professor Button is interested in the regulation of private policing and security management, and has helped develop standards for the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime.

WHAT DOES PROFESSOR BUTTON SAY?

Asked whether more uniformity is needed from Governments to tackle global fraud, Prof Button says it wouldn't be easy:

"If we were starting from scratch and we had to design a system to deal with the problem of fraud, we would create an international body because of the amount of fraud that cuts across borders. An international body would perhaps provide the focus.

"Interpol, do some good work, as do Europol, but like many policing organizations at a national level, their focus is invariably upon the kind of higher rates of crimes - things like terrorism, drug dealing…So fraud often falls down their list of priorities. Having an international body purely dedicated to fraud deals with that issue.

"So, I think an international body will be very welcome, but unfortunately a very difficult thing to achieve."

Mark also explains that our phones often act as a portable and accessible target for criminals:

"In recent months, there's been a huge problem with text-based frauds, where fraudsters have been able to form huge numbers of text messages and send those to large numbers of individuals.

"During the pandemic, lots of people have been keen to get a pet to keep them company and fraudsters set up false websites selling pets, or people were paying money for pets they never saw.

"These are just some of the many emerging different types of frauds that are regularly hitting our screens – our laptops or mobile phones."

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:

Tony Sales describes his journey from conman to consultant and how he's now helping to fight back against the future versions of his former self.

Dr Elisabeth Carter reveals the hidden tactics used by romance fraudsters.

FIND MORE STORIES FROM THE AGENDA WITH STEPHEN COLE  HERE