Fraud Advisory Panel

The FAP is a charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (charity number 1108863; company number 04327390).{{Cite web|date=7 January 2021|title=FRAUD ADVISORY PANEL Company number 4327390|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04327390|website=Companies House}} It is governed by a board comprising between three and fifteen trustee directors. Trustees are experienced counter-fraud professionals drawn from across sectors. ICAEW also has the right to appoint one third of the directors.{{Cite web|date=7 January 2021|title=About us Who we are|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/about-us/who-we-are/|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}{{Cite web|date=7 January 2021|title=Open Corporates Fraud Advisory Panel|url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/04327390|website=opencorporates}} The board is led by a chairman, a voluntary position that has been held by the following people:

• George Staple CB QC (2001–2003){{Cite web|date=1 May 2003|title=On the move|url=https://www.accountancydaily.co/move|website=Accountancy Daily}}
• Rosalind Wright CB QC (2003–2014){{Cite news|date=15 April 2003|title=Trading Places|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/trading-places-lkjqfbbrvz9|access-date=7 January 2021}}
• David Kirk (2014–2019){{Cite news|last=Ring|first=Suzi|date=10 April 2014|title=Ex-FCA Criminal Chief David Kirk to Lead U.K. Fraud Lobby Group|work=Bloomberg Business|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-09/ex-fca-criminal-chief-david-kirk-to-lead-u-k-fraud-lobby-group|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Webb|first=Tom|date=11 April 2014|title=David Kirk to chair UK's Fraud Advisory Panel|url=https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/david-kirk-chair-uks-fraud-advisory-panel|website=global investigations review}}
• David Clarke (2019–2022) {{Cite web|last=Sims|first=Brian|date=18 January 2019|title=Fraud Advisory Panel appoints former senior police officer David Clarke as new chair|url=https://www.risk-uk.com/fraud-advisory-panel-appoints-former-senior-police-officer-david-clarke-as-new-chair/|access-date=7 January 2021|website=Risk-uk|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110065858/https://www.risk-uk.com/fraud-advisory-panel-appoints-former-senior-police-officer-david-clarke-as-new-chair/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=29 May 2019|title=Fraud Advisory Panel appoints David Clarke as new Chair|url=https://www.guildhawk.com/news-insight/fraud-advisory-panel-appoints-david-clarke/|access-date=9 January 2021|website=Guildhawk}}
• Sir David Green CB QC (2022–) {{Cite web|title=Results of AGM 2021|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/events/agm-and-annual-lecture-2021/|website=fraudadvisorypanel.org|access-date=2022-01-02|archive-date=2022-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102121831/https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/events/agm-and-annual-lecture-2021/|url-status=dead}}https://359zpa2vui8h3p4u7j2qlmlg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Chairman-Interviews-January-2022.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105183126/https://359zpa2vui8h3p4u7j2qlmlg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Chairman-Interviews-January-2022.pdf |date=2022-01-05 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}

Dominic Grieve QC, the former Attorney General became a patron of the Panel on 7 September 2018.{{Cite web|date=7 January 2018|title=Dominic Grieve QC MP has been announced as the first patron of the independent fraud watchdog Fraud Advisory Panel|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Press-release-new-patron-Final-07Sept18.pdf|access-date=9 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}

In January 2021, the charity had two members of staff, Mia Campbell{{Cite web|last=Campbell|first=Mia|date=29 January 2021|title=Civil Society Mia Capbell|url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/people.mia-campbell.html|access-date=29 January 2021|website=civilsociety.co.uk}}{{Cite web|last=Chase|first=Isabella|date=1 February 2021|title=Podcast Picking on the little guy. International Charity Fraud Awareness Week|url=https://rusi.org/multimedia/episode-04-picking-little-guy|access-date=1 February 2021|website=rusi.org|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306171713/https://www.rusi.org/multimedia/episode-04-picking-little-guy|url-status=dead}} and Zara Fisher.{{Cite web|date=9 January 2021|title=About us|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/about-us/who-we-are/|access-date=9 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}

Membership of the Panel is open to individuals and organisations that are concerned about the harm caused by economic crime and want to do something about it. Membership offers various benefits including the opportunity to keep up to date with trends in the counter fraud field, meet fellow counter-fraud professionals, exchange insights and influence change to protect society from crime.{{Cite web|title=Fraud Advisory Panel Benefits|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/membership/member-benefits/|access-date=9 January 2021|website=fraud advisory panel}} Corporate membership has the added benefit of making a public demonstration that the organisation is committed to supporting initiatives that fight fraud. The Panel also offers a student membership that provides eligibility to apply for the Panel's mentoring scheme. Those new to the profession have a dedicated group that is free to join called the Future Fraud Professionals Network with its own committee structure that arranges regular professional events and social events.{{Cite web|title=Membership Future Fraud Professionals|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/membership/futureprofessionals/|access-date=9 January 2021|website=fraud advisory panel}}

The ICAEW is a funding members; other corporate members at January 2021 included:{{Cite web|date=9 January 2021|title=Who we work with|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/about-us/who-we-work-with/|website=fraud advisory panel}}

• Access Bank plc
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
• Baker Tilly
• BDO
• CIFAS
• Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB)
• Ernst and Young
• Financial Conduct Authority
• Grant Thornton
• International Compliance Association{{Cite web|date=9 January 2021|title=Who we work with International Compliance Association|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/our-partner/international-compliance-association/|access-date=9 January 2021|website=www.fraudadvisorypanel.org}}
• JMW Solicitors
• KPMG
• Law Society of England and Wales
• Moon Beaver{{cite news|last=Bullough|first=Oliver|date=22 April 2018|title=Britain, headquarters of fraud|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/22/the-sunday-essay-britain-headquarters-of-fraud|access-date=9 January 2021}}
• Pinsent Masons
• PWC
• Smith and Williamson
• Tenet Litigation and Compliance{{Cite news|last=Chauhan|first=Arun|date=7 January 2020|title=The types of fraud social landlords are most vulnerable to and how to prevent them|publisher=Inside Housing|url=https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/comment/the-types-of-fraud-social-landlords-are-most-vulnerable-to-and-how-to-prevent-them-64640|access-date=9 January 2021}}
• Synectics Solutions{{Cite web|title=Who we work with Synectics Solutions|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/our-partner/synectics-solutions/|access-date=9 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}

Chief among the Panels series of events is the publication of a special report and an annual lecture at the Annual General Meeting held in the summer. The lecture has been delivered by a number of distinguished people with notable experiences in the field of fraud including:

• 2016, Former Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith QC PC. Special Report: The Fraud Review 10 years on.{{Cite web|date=June 2016|title=The Fraud Review 10 years on|url=https://359zpa2vui8h3p4u7j2qlmlg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Fraud-Review-Ten-Years-On-WEB.pdf|website=Fraud Advisory Panel|access-date=2021-01-18|archive-date=2021-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517182748/https://359zpa2vui8h3p4u7j2qlmlg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Fraud-Review-Ten-Years-On-WEB.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Trainor|first=Sara|date=July 2016|title=Is the State still failing to deter, prevent, investigate and prosecute fraud? A discussion on fraud and the measures taken against it|url=https://www.emmlegal.com/publications/state-still-failing-deter-prevent-investigate-prosecute-fraud-discussion-fraud-measures-taken/|access-date=18 January 2021|website=emmlegal.com}}
• 2017, Former UBS trader and convicted fraudster Kweku Adoboli. Special Report: Businesses Behaving Badly.{{Cite web|date=4 July 2017|title=Businesses failing in duty to deter crime and promote honesty|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Businesses-failing-in-duty-to-deter-crime-and-promote-honesty-Final-04Jul17.pdf|access-date=18 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}{{Cite web|date=July 2017|title=Businesses behaving badly Fraud, corporate culture and ethics|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Businesses-Behaving-Badly-July-2017.pdf|access-date=18 January 2021}}
• 2019, Investigative Journalist Oliver Bullough, Special Report: Hidden in Plain Sight.{{Cite web|date=2 July 2019|title=2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/AGM-Programme-2019-full-papers-for-voting-members.pdf|access-date=18 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}{{Cite news|last=Bullough|first=Oliver|date=22 April 2018|title=Britain, headquarters of fraud|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/22/the-sunday-essay-britain-headquarters-of-fraud|access-date=18 January 2021}}
• 2020, Film maker and convicted tax fraudster Chris Atkins,{{Cite web|date=22 July 2020|title=Fraud Advisory Panel AGM|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DRAFT-AGM-Minutes-2020.pdf|access-date=19 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}} Special Report: Calm Before the Storm.{{Cite web|date=July 2020|title=The calm before the storm UK counter fraud in 2019|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Calm-Before-the-Storm-Web-Jul20.pdf|access-date=19 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}{{Cite web|date=9 July 2020|title="Slow progress in fighting fraud gives way to new wave of COVID-driven risks" reports Fraud Advisory Panel|url=https://www.fsmatters.com/Report-bemoans-slow-progress-in-fighting-fraud|access-date=19 January 2021|website=fsmatters}}

The Fraud Advisory Panel partnered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales to launch the International Fraud Awareness Week to help charities and not for profit organisations to avoid falling prey to fraud.{{Cite news|date=20 October 2020|title=Helping charities, NGOs and not-for-profits stay safe|work=Economia|url=https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2020/oct-2020/helping-charities-ngos-and-not-for-profits-stay-safe}} The week includes webinars, news interviews and the publication of freely accessible anti-fraud advice.{{Cite news|date=21 October 2020|title=Charity Fraud Awareness Week webinar|work=Professional Security Magazine|url=https://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/news/interviews/charity-fraud-awareness-week-webinar/}}{{Cite news|date=21 October 2020|title=Watchdog warning in charity fraud awareness week|work=Professional Security Magazine Online|url=https://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/news/interviews/watchdog-warning-in-charity-fraud-awareness-week/|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{Cite web|date=25 October 2019|title=Guidance Protect your charity from fraud and cyber crime. Information about fraud and cyber crime, how to spot it and what you can do to protect against it.|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protect-your-charity-from-fraud|access-date=7 January 2021|website=gov uk}}

In 2017, the FAP called for fundraising pages to be regulated amid fraud concerns following the launch of bogus Just Giving pages soon after the Westminster Bridge terror attacks.{{Cite news|last=Halliday|first=Josh|date=17 April 2017|title=Call for fundraising pages to be regulated amid fraud concerns|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/17/call-for-fundraising-pages-to-be-regulated-amid-concerns|access-date=7 January 2021}}

The FAP has issued a wide range of guidance to help protect charities from economic crime and cyber crime including advice on how to avoid COVID-19 related fraud and these are available free of charge on their website.{{Cite news|date=17 September 2020|title=Accountants fight boom in post-pandemic fraud|work=ICAEW|url=https://www.icaew.com/insights/quarterly/quarterly-issue3/accountants-fight-boom-in-postpandemic-fraud|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{Cite news|date=16 December 2020|title=New guide to help charities avoid COVID-19 fraud|work=Charity Today|url=https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/new-guide-to-help-charities-avoid-covid-19-fraud/|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{Cite news|date=20 October 2020|title=Helping charities, NGOs and not-for-profits stay safe|work=ICAEW|url=https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2020/oct-2020/helping-charities-ngos-and-not-for-profits-stay-safe|access-date=7 January 2021}}

In 2020, the Panel established a COVID-19 Fraud Watch task force with Cabinet Office, City of London Police and over seventy other partners to quickly disseminate counter fraud advice and intelligence to protect society. It was reported that the group identified various fraud risks concerning taxpayer backed stimulus packages and other fraud and actionable intelligence was shared with government.{{Cite web|date=October 2020|title=The Public Sector Counter Fraud Journal - page 17: Fraud fighters unite to defend the UK from COVID-19 crime|url=https://khub.net/documents/250346239/286053904/Public+Sector+Counter+Fraud+Journal+-+Issue+6.pdf/73269ac1-1fbf-5ecf-50bd-9e547063deed?version=1.0&t=1601972082028&previewFileIndex=|website=khub -}}{{Cite web|date=31 July 2020|title=Results of AGM and Annual Lecture Key Achievements|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/events/agm-and-annual-lecture-3/|website=Fraud Advisory Panel org|access-date=7 January 2021|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109200604/https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/events/agm-and-annual-lecture-3/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Clarke|first=David|date=July 2020|title=Fraud Advisory Panel Protecting the Nation from Financial Fraud|url=https://vimeo.com/446495696|access-date=9 January 2021|website=Vimeo}} The task force operated for 6 months and published sanitised information and counter-fraud advice for the public via its cross-sector partners{{Cite web|date=14 May 2020|title=Fraud Advisory Panel Weekly Updates on COVID-19 fraud in England & Wales|url=https://charteredaccountantsworldwide.com/fraud-advisory-panel-weekly-updates-on-covid-19-fraud/|access-date=7 January 2021|website=chartered accountants worldwide com}} and the charity's website.{{Cite web|date=17 September 2020|title=Covid-19 fraud watch latest update|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/covid-fraud-watch-group/|access-date=7 January 2021|website=Fraud Advisory panel org}}{{Cite web|date=October 2020|title=Fraud Advisory Panel Key Achievements 2019|url=https://vimeo.com/446495696|access-date=7 January 2020|website=Vimeo}}

Crime trends, prevention advice and lessons learnt from the COVID-19 Fraud Watch task force have continued to be shared across sectors to alert businesses and encourage vigilance and due diligence as the world comes out of the crisis. This included free webinars tailored to sectors such as a Law Society podcast interview with David Clarke that was made available for the public.{{Cite web|last=Cardenas|first=Alexandra|date=15 January 2021|title=Fraud Awareness Podcast interview with Fraud Advisory Panel Chairman David Clarke|url=https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/en/topics/coronavirus/fraud-awareness-and-covid-19-podcast|access-date=1 March 2021|website=Lawsociety.org.uk}}

In June 2020, they alerted Rishi Sunak MP, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, National Audit Office and others to the risk of fraud against the government tax-payer backed stimulus schemes.{{Cite news|last=Armitage|first=Jim|date=26 June 2020|title=Fraud chiefs warn Rishi Sunak over risks of millions of pounds being stolen under state covid loans due to lack of transparency|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/fraud-cbils-bounceback-loans-rishi-sunak-sfo-crime-a4481316.html}}{{Cite news|date=17 September 2020|title=Accountants fight boom in post-pandemic fraud|work=Economia|url=https://www.icaew.com/insights/quarterly/quarterly-issue3/accountants-fight-boom-in-postpandemic-fraud}}{{Cite news|last=Thicknesse|first=Edward|date=6 October 2020|title=On the brink: SMEs cut off from bounce back boans as banks close to new customers|work=City AM|url=https://www.cityam.com/on-the-brink-smes-cut-off-from-bounce-back-loans-as-banks-close-to-new-customers/}} The advice to Sunak was contained in a letter that was signed by David Clarke the chair of the Panel and former Director{{Cite web|last=Clarke|first=David|date=July 2010|title=General Guide to the NFIB|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118482/general-guide-nfib.pdf|website=assets publishing Gov UK}} of the police National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Duncan Hames of Transparency International, Susan Hawley of Spotlight on Corruption,{{Cite web|last=Hawley|first=Susan|title=Team: Dr Susan Hawley|url=https://www.spotlightcorruption.org/about-team/|website=Spotlight on Corruption}} Rosalind Wright, former Director{{Cite news|last=Wynn Davies|first=Patricia|date=23 October 2011|title=Serious Fraud Office appoints SFA director to succeed Staple|work=Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/serious-fraud-office-appoints-sfa-director-to-succeed-staple-1272286.html}} of the Serious Fraud Office and Professor Mike Levi{{Cite web|title=Michael Levi|url=https://rusi.org/people/levi|website=RUSI}} of Cardiff University and Senior Associate of RUSI.

The letter cautioned that a lack of due diligence on customers left the Bounce Back Loan Scheme particularly vulnerable to fraud and the authors requested that the names of companies receiving loans be published to prevent and identify fraud. The letter was shared with the National Audit Office (NAO) and later published online.{{Cite web|date=16 June 2020|title=Letter to Rishi Sunak MP dated 16 June 2020 - Request to Publish names of All Companies Receiving BBLs and CBILs to Prevent Fraud|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FAP-Letter-to-Chancellor-of-Exchequer-Loan-Transparency-16Jun20.pdf|website=Fraud Advisory Panel|access-date=18 December 2020|archive-date=24 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224092029/https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FAP-Letter-to-Chancellor-of-Exchequer-Loan-Transparency-16Jun20.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=16 June 2020|title=Letter to Rishi Sunak MP dated 16 June 2020 - Request to Publish names of All Companies Receiving BBLs and CBILs to Prevent Fraud|url=https://www.spotlightcorruption.org/transparency-in-covid-19-public-bailouts/|website=Spotlight on Corruption}} Whilst the names of some companies that received BBLS loans was published by Finance UK as case studies, the government and British Business bank declined to publish the names of all recipients. In the summer of 2020, reports of fraud against the taxpayer backed BBLs schemes began to emerge that mirrored the concerns highlighted in the letter to the Chancellor.{{Cite news|last=Austin|first=Amy|date=27 October 2020|title=Covid loan fraud cases reported to Action Fraud|work=FT Adviser|url=https://www.ftadviser.com/companies/2020/10/27/covid-loan-fraud-cases-reported-to-action-fraud/}}{{Cite news|last=Sweet|first=Pat|date=9 November 2020|title=Over £1bn of fraudulent bounce back loan applications|work=Accountancy Daily|url=https://www.accountancydaily.co/over-ps1bn-fraudulent-bounce-back-loan-applications}}

In October 2020, the NAO published a report following its investigation into the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and warned that taxpayers may lose £26bn on unpaid loans and an influential committee of MPs the government's plans to recoup losses was "woefully underdeveloped".{{Cite news|date=7 October 2020|title=Investigation into the Bounce Back Loan Scheme|work=National Audit Office|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/press-release/investigation-into-the-bounce-back-loan-scheme/}}{{Cite news|date=7 October 2020|title=Bounce back loans: Taxpayers may lose £26bn on unpaid loans|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54432916}}{{Cite news|last=Chapman|first=Ben|date=16 December 2020|title=Government plans to recoup £26bn of losses on Covid loans 'woefully underdeveloped', says committee|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/bounce-back-loans-fraud-public-accounts-committee-b1774505.html}}{{Cite news|date=30 September 2020|title=Ministers were warned of 'high risk' of Covid loans fraud|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54366178}} Types of fraud included criminals using the identities of innocent companies to obtain BBLS loans leading to criticism that some banks were not doing any due diligence.{{Cite news|last=Crawford|first=Angus|date=28 September 2020|title=Coronavirus: 'My name was used to steal a government Covid loan'|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54187581}} Interviewed by CityAM, FAP chair David Clarke drew a comparison with the Sub-Prime Mortgages crisis saying, “As we saw with the self-certified subprime loans scandal pre-2008, fraudsters including bank insiders see [BBLs] as an easy target” .{{Cite news|last=Thicknesse|first=Edward|date=6 October 2020|title=On the brink: SMEs cut off from bounce back boans as banks close to new customers|work=City AM|url=https://www.cityam.com/on-the-brink-smes-cut-off-from-bounce-back-loans-as-banks-close-to-new-customers/|access-date=7 January 2020}}

On 20 December 2020, the FAP Chairman David Clarke was cited as saying that in 10 years time, people will still be looking for taxpayer backed money lost to fraud.{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=Daniel|date=20 December 2020|title='A giant bonfire of taxpayers' money': fraud and the UK pandemic loan scheme|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/41d5fe0a-7b46-4dd7-96e3-710977dff81c}} On 23 January 2021, it was reported that three men working for the same London financial institution had been arrested by the National Crime Agency as part of an investigation into an alleged fraudulent coronavirus bounce back loans totalling £6m.{{Cite web|date=23 January 2021|title=Arrests in £6m bounce back loan scam|url=https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/arrests-in-6m-bounce-back-loan-scam#:~:text=Three%20men%20working%20for%20a,claims%20totalling%20%C2%A36%20million.|access-date=25 January 2021|website=Nationalcrimeagency.go.uk|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124074831/https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/arrests-in-6m-bounce-back-loan-scam#:~:text=Three%20men%20working%20for%20a,claims%20totalling%20%C2%A36%20million.|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|date=23 January 2021|title=Three men arrested amid inquiry into £6m Covid loan fraud|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/23/three-men-arrested-amid-inquiry-into-6m-covid-loan|access-date=25 January 2021}} City AM also reported that UK banks had begun to claw back money fraudulent bounce back loans.{{Cite news|last=Clark|first=Jessica|date=24 January 2021|title=Banks claw back fraudulent bounce back loans|work=City AM|url=https://www.cityam.com/banks-claw-back-fraudulent-bounce-back-loans/|access-date=25 January 2021}} On 23 January 2021, it was reported that the NCA had arrested three men who worked at the same London financial institution in connection with an investigation into coronavirus Bounce Back Loan fraud totalling £6 million. The City workers were suspected of using their 'specialist knowledge' to perpetrate the fraud. The article quoted the letter sent to Chancellor Rishi Sunak by the Panel and others in June 2021, calling on Government to publish names of recipients of taxpayer-backed loans to prevent such fraud.{{Cite news|last=Roach|first=April|date=23 January 2021|title=Three London city workers arrested amid fraud probe into coronavirus bounce back loans of £6 million|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-city-workers-arrest-covid-fraud-loan-b900915.html|access-date=5 February 2021}}

In January 2021, The Times reported that Britain would bow to European Union State Aid rules and disclose the names of companies that received taxpayer-backed loans, quoting Lord Myners as saying the government was being, “very slippery” over refusing to publish the identities of companies accessing COVID loans amid concerns about potential fraud and politically embarrassing awards.{{Cite news|last=Ralph|first=Alex|date=23 January 2021|title=Britain bows to EU state aid rules over Covid loans disclosure|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/britain-bows-to-eu-state-aid-rules-over-covid-loans-disclosure-pcxknt0cq|access-date=5 February 2021}}

The scale of fraud against the Bounce Back Loans Scheme and how the UK police had begun 'hunting down fraudsters' featured in a BBC story by Angus Crawford aired on BBC Television news on 5 February 2021.The report included an interview with FAP chairman David Clarke who warned that "Covid-19 fraud could potentially be the biggest fraud in history".{{Cite news|last=Crawford|first=Angus|date=5 February 2021|title=Bounce back loans: Hunting down the Covid loan fraudsters|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-55895738|access-date=1 March 2021}}{{Cite web|date=22 February 2021|title=COVID-19 Fraud - David Clarke speaks to BBC News at 10|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgQd1JBEPwU|access-date=1 March 2021|website=YouTube}} On 1 March 2021, LBC News reported that four men aged 82, 52 and 30 and a 70-year-old woman had been arrested on 24 February over an alleged £500,000 Bounce Back Loan fraud.{{Cite news|last=White|first=Megan|date=1 March 2021|title=Four people have been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged cases of Covid Bounce Back Loan fraud totalling £500,000|work=LBC|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/four-arrested-alleged-covid-bounce-back-loan-fraud/|access-date=1 March 2021}}

In 2012, the Panel published a special report on the abuse of company incorporation to facilitate fraud and since then has lobbied for reforms to the system of company formation.{{Cite web|title=The abuse of company incorporation to commit fraud|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Abuse-of-Incorporation-November-2012.pdf|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}{{Cite news|last=Armitage|first=Jim|date=18 September 2020|title=Cautious welcome for Companies House reforms to stop fraudsters|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/fraud-companies-house-business-a4550631.html}} The Panel was critical of a decision to reduce the cost of registering a company in 2016{{Cite news|last=Houlder|first=Vanessa|date=1 March 2016|title=UK slashes cost of registering a company to £10|work=FT|url=https://www.ft.com/content/368e2920-dca1-11e5-827d-4dfbe0213e07|access-date=7 January 2021}}

Frances Coulson, an insolvency lawyer and FAP Director warned that company incorporation was being used to launder dirty money and “All the indicators are that it’s getting worse.”{{Cite news|last=Bergin|first=Tom|date=18 March 2016|title=How UK company formation agents fuel fraud|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-regulations-agents-insight-idUSKCN0WK18A|access-date=7 January 2021}} In later interviews, Coulson said, “We have a very light-touch touch entry point for limited liability, so you can buy a company off the shelf for £9.99,” adding, “You can acquire a veneer of respectability without any substance behind it.”{{Cite news|last=Ashworth|first=Louis|date=4 December 2018|title=Why a river of dirty money flows through the United Kingdom|work=City AM|url=https://www.cityam.com/why-river-dirty-money-flows-through-united-kingdom/|access-date=7 January 2021}} Coulson has expressed concern that enforcement action is not being taken saying, “Part of the raison d’etre for the enforcement is the protection of the public,” and “[This] doesn’t sound as if it’s happening.” when commenting on a case in County Durham. In that instance, hundreds of people were paid to be directors of shell companies, many with no real staff or operations in the UK but acted as conduits for millions of pounds in revenue from online porn and gambling.{{Cite news|last=Parraudin|first=Frances|date=25 November 2016|title=Hundreds of people in Co Durham paid to be shell company directors|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/25/hundreds-of-people-in-consett-co-durham-paid-to-be-shell-company-directors|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Pal|first=Alasdair|date=23 November 2016|title=Special Report: How a British town became a hub for online porn and poker|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-consett-companies-special-rep-idUSKBN13I142|access-date=7 January 2021}}

In 2020, the Panel Chairman David Clarke provided commentary in The Times and OCCRP following an investigation by journalists looking into a global web of firms created by a company formation agent called Formations House.{{Cite news|last=Clarke|first=David|date=4 December 2019|title=Formations House investigation: Britain has become a dreamland for the corrupt|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/money/article/britain-has-become-a-dreamland-for-the-corrupt-7nn8b6pn8|access-date=1 March 2021}}{{Cite web|date=5 December 2019|title=OCCRP Undercover in Formations House - Interview with Fraud Advisory Panel Chairman David Clarke|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgKE_YCGxI8|access-date=1 March 2021|website=YouTube}}{{Cite web|date=4 December 2019|title=OCCRP Why is the UK a haven for money laundering?|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv2x8qZl4o4|access-date=1 March 2021|website=YouTube}} Criticising the ease with which criminals abuse company incorporation he was quoted as saying, "Britain has become a dreamland for the corrupt". {{Cite news|last=Brown|first=David|date=4 December 2019|title=Global web of firms for fraudsters created by British company Formations House|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/global-web-of-firms-for-fraudsters-created-by-british-company-formations-house-5sb8zb238}}{{Cite news|date=5 December 2019|title=Undercover in Formations House|work=OCCRP|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/videos/}}

Information leaked to OCCRP resulted in allegations that the system of company incorporation in the UK and other jurisdictions is broken and was being abused by criminals and corrupt officials to disguise their assets, source of wealth and beneficial ownership of businesses.{{Cite web|last=Horne|first=Lorax B|date=9 December 2019|title=20 things I learned from #29 Leaks|url=https://medium.com/@netlorax/20-things-i-learned-from-29-leaks-a762ae54a5c3|website=Medium}}

The FAP highlights the threat posed to civil society from serious organised crime groups and has produced guidance on what measures governments, businesses and other bodies can take to fight serious economic crime. As part of a BBC Panorama investigation entitled, Gangsters Dirty Money Exposed, aired on 27 April 2018, the Panel provided an opinion on allegations of money laundering in London by the Ukrainian Mafia.{{Cite news|last=Verity|first=Andy|date=27 April 2018|title=Gangsters Dirty Money Exposed|work=BBC Television|url=https://archive.org/details/BBCNEWS_20180427_023000_Gangsters_Dirty_Money_Exposed_-...}}{{Cite news|last=Verity|first=Andy|date=28 April 2018|title=Gangsters' Dirty Money Exposed|work=BBC Panorama|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b120k8}}

The FAP has called on banks to refund innocent victims of fraud and in a BBC Watchdog Live interview about a case where a NatWest bank customer had £20,000 stolen while 'unconscious', lawyer and FAP deputy chairman Arun Chauhan said of the bank, "They accept he's been assaulted and they accept the transactions were by a third party, so unless they can prove gross negligence, or fraud on Arthur's behalf, he needs to be compensated."{{Cite news|last=Quinn|first=David|date=5 December 2018|title=I had £20,000 stolen while unconscious|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46445299|access-date=7 January 2021}}

In a special report titled "Hidden in Plain Sight",{{Cite web|date=2 July 2019|title=Press Release - Hidden in Plain Sight|url=https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Unchecked-conflicts-of-interest-fuelling-corruption-risks-02Jul19.pdf|website=Fraud Advisory Panel}}{{Cite web|title=Hidden in Plain Sight - Domestic corruption, fraud and the integrity deficit|url=https://359zpa2vui8h3p4u7j2qlmlg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hidden-in-plain-sight-Jul19-WEB.pdf|website=Fraud Advisory Panel|access-date=2020-12-18|archive-date=2020-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024165347/https://359zpa2vui8h3p4u7j2qlmlg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hidden-in-plain-sight-Jul19-WEB.pdf|url-status=dead}} published in July 2019, the Panel warned that domestic corruption in the UK is going unnoticed. Chairman David Clarke told the Evening Standard, "Corruption isn’t a single event or act; it is a process whose ultimate objective is to create a culture in which it can become the new normal. Everywhere we look in Britain today we see signs that just such a culture is beginning to take root." {{Cite news|last=Armitage|first=Jim|date=2 July 2019|title=UK 'is at risk of a tide of corruption'|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/uk-is-at-risk-of-a-tide-of-corruption-a4180321.html|access-date=7 January 2021}} and called for better controls to fight corruption and money laundering.{{Cite news|last=Stafford|first=Joe|date=5 July 2019|title=Domestic UK corruption is going unnoticed, say experts|work=Manchester University News|url=https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/domestic-uk-corruption-is-going-unnoticed-say-experts/}}{{Cite news|last=Armitage|first=Jim|date=27 February 2014|title=David Clarke: Villains choose 'safe' London to launder their dirty money|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/david-clarke-villains-choose-safe-london-launder-their-dirty-money-9155974.html}}

Writing in The Times in December 2019, Clarke warned that "Britain has become a dreamland for the corrupt", in part due to the ease with which criminals can incorporate a company and the country's limited enforcement of the law as evidenced in the case of a company formation agent exposed by the ICIJ.{{Cite news|last=Clarke|first=David|date=4 December 2019|title=Formations House investigation: Britain has become a dreamland for the corrupt|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/money/article/britain-has-become-a-dreamland-for-the-corrupt-7nn8b6pn8}} The warning mirrored concerns he had raised in 2014 that companies and real estate in the London were being used to by criminals to launder the proceeds of crime.{{Cite news|last=Armitage|first=Jim|date=27 February 2014|title=David Clarke: Villains choose 'safe' London to launder their dirty money|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/david-clarke-villains-choose-safe-london-launder-their-dirty-money-9155974.html}}

In 2018, the Charity Fraud Awareness Week led by the FAP, won the Government Counter-Fraud Award for Outstanding International Collaboration in recognition of the work to unite more than 40 charities, regulators, professional bodies and other stakeholders across the world worked together to help combat fraud targeted towards charities.{{Cite web|date=20 February 2019|title=News story Charity Fraud Awareness Week wins award|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/charity-fraud-awareness-week-22-26-october-2018|website=Gov UK}}

Members of the FAP Board frequently appear on television and radio to provide independent, expert opinion and advice on a range of fraud related matters. These include appearances on BBC Business News and BBC World Service{{Cite news|date=28 May 2019|title=Romantic Fraud|work=BBC World Service|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csy7d5}} and the BBC's Charity Fraud Cheats{{Cite web|date=21 October 2019|title=Tackling charity fraud: why it matters|url=https://charteredaccountantsworldwide.com/event/tackling-charity-fraud-matters/|website=Chartered Accountants Worldwide}} and Rip Off Britain series, including a case in which one presenter, Gloria Hunniford was herself the victim of fraud when a criminal impersonated her and stole £120,000 from her Santander Bank account.{{Cite news|last=Quin|first=Ben|date=19 August 2016|title=Rip Off Britain's Gloria Hunniford defrauded by impostor, court told|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/19/rip-off-britains-gloria-hunniford-defrauded-imposter-lookalike}}{{Cite web|title=BBC Rip Off Britain|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b097sc13|website=BBC}}{{Cite news|last=Simpson|first=Fiona|date=22 March 2017|title=Moment woman 'posed as Gloria Hunniford to drain Rip Off Britain star's savings'|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/moment-woman-posed-as-gloria-hunniford-to-drain-rip-off-britain-star-s-savings-a3495806.html}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/ Official Website]
• https://www.icaew.com/technical/legal-and-regulatory/business-crime-and-misconduct/fraud-advisory-panel

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraud Advisory Panel}}

Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom

Category:Fraud organizations

Category:2001 establishments in the United Kingdom