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OFT sets up internet fraud crime force

Published on 15 Feb 2010 under category: legal

A trading standards team has been created specifically to tackle the growing amount of internet crime.

The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) new cyber enforcement team will be trained by an international expert to address the fastest growing means for fraud crime.

According to figures from the OFT, 73 per cent of adults received a scam email in 2009. It is estimated that up to three million consumers lost £3.5 billion, after being taken in by scams and fraudulent schemes.

Funds of £4.3 million will be invested in the team, whose detection skills will be supplemented by highly trained enforcers in all regions in the UK. Areas dealt with will include ticket touts, fake products and scam websites.

Cases will be passed on to the police, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Companies Investigations Branch, if appropriate.

Fraud figures at the beginning of the year highlighted the problem in all sectors, prompting the OFT to launch its 'Scam Awareness Month' at the beginning of February.

If you require advice on Corporate Fraud please call us on +44 (0)20 7831 0101 and ask for Dan Hyde.