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Multi Agency Approach to Fraud (MAAF) Group

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What is fraud?

Fraud is the act of deceit usually for the purpose of financial or personal gain.  There are many types of fraud which can be reported for investigation using the different links below.

Where possible please provide your name, email address or phone number so that you can be contacted if an investigation begins.

There are examples of the areas that each organisation investigate below but if you do not know who to report to please see the FAQs and Help on the homepage or send a general enquiry to CFEU.enquiries@cotswold.gov.uk .

For help and support if you have been a victim of Fraud please click this link.

Tips

  • Keep a copy of any document that you think is suspicious.
  • Do not confront the individual with your suspicions.
  • Do not try to investigate your suspicions yourself.
  • Avoid websites, emails and phone numbers that imitate government services – check on Search – GOV.UK to check for official emails and phone numbers.
  • For more information and advice visit the government website ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ www.gov.uk/stopthinkfraud.

Text messages / bogus callers

Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 to your mobile provider for free. You can also text “call” to 7726 to report a bogus call.

Your mobile provider receives the forwarded message and can investigate its origin. If the text is identified as a scam, they can work to block that number from sending messages to other customers. There is no charge for forwarding the text to 7726, even if you receive a warning message that says it may be chargeable.

Emails

Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

The National Cyber Security Centre will investigate it and work to remove scam websites. Do not click links or open attachments in suspicious emails. After reporting delete the email from your inbox and deleted items.

Adverts

Report misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Agency at Make a complaint – ASA | CAP

The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK’s independent adverting regulator that makes sure ads across UK media stick to the advertising rules.

What happens when you report a fraud

You may be contacted for more information or as a witness; however an investigation may be conducted without the need to contact you directly.

Crimestoppers

You can report any information about crime and those involved in crime, 100% anonymously, to the charity Crimestoppers. Go to www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555 111.

They cannot see or trace your device, number or location and will never ask for your name. They simply take your information, check it to make sure you cannot be identified, and pass it on to the police for you.

Gloucestershire Constabulary

Gloucestershire Constabulary Home | Gloucestershire Constabulary website – this can be used for victim information and to report a crime.

Always dial 999 in an emergency situation, such as:

*You are in immediate danger

*There is an immediate threat to your personal safety

*The fraud is happening right now, and the suspect is still at the scene

Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries.

Gloucestershire NHS Counter Fraud Service

NHS fraud is any fraud where the NHS is the victim. This has a serious impact on us all. If you have any suspicions contact the Local Counter Fraud Service straight away on ghn-tr.fraudAccountMailbox@nhs.net or by phoning the team on 0300 422 2726.

Your confidentiality will be respected. We never divulge the name of an informant.  Alternatively, you can contact the national NHS Counter Fraud Authority on: 0800 028 4060 or complete this online reporting form.

County, District and Borough Councils

If you wish to report allegations of fraud or misuse of public funds in relation to Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Blue Badges, Schools, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue or Council employees / Councillors contact Gloucestershire County Council online here or email fraud@gloucestershire.gov.uk or call 01452 427052.

If you wish to report allegations of fraud or misuse of public funds in relation to Council Tax, Business Rates, Council Tax Support, Planning, Licensing or Council employees / Councillors contact the District and Borough Councils below:

Social Housing Fraud

If you suspect someone is not living at their property, has sub-let their property or provided false information to obtain a social housing property report it to the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit at www.cfeu.org.uk or call 01242 264215.

Department for Work & Pensions

If you want to report benefit fraud, contact the DWP at Report benefit fraud – GOV.UK or contact the national hotline on 0800 854 440.

Report Fraud

Report Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cybercrime in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  The service is run by the City of London Police working alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) who are responsible for assessing the reports you make and ensuring your fraud report reaches the right place.  The City of London Police is the national policing lead for economic crime.

You can report fraud or cybercrime to the Report Fraud online reporting service any time of the day or night; the service enables you to both report a fraud and find help and support.  Report Fraud provides help and advice over the phone through their contact centre. You can talk to fraud and cybercrime specialists by calling 0300 123 2040.  When you report to Report Fraud you will receive a police crime reference number.

Report Fraud does not investigate fraud reports.  After you’ve reported something to Report Fraud, your report will be sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which is part of the City of London Police. The Police decide what to do next. If the NFIB decide there might be enough information in your report for the police to investigate, they’ll send it to the local police force for the place the crime happened (this may not be the same police force as where you live). That police force will look at the information and decide whether to investigate the case.  Whether or not the NFIB decide to send your report on to local police to investigate, you’ll be told what the NFIB have done within 28 days of when you made your report (or whenever you last sent an update). The NFIB might also take other action, for example to take down websites or phone numbers that are used to commit fraud.

What you can report to Report Fraud

You can report all fraud and cybercrime to Report Fraud, aside from the exceptions below for which you should report:

Always dial 999 in an emergency situation, such as:

*You are in immediate danger

*There is an immediate threat to your personal safety

*The fraud is happening right now, and the suspect is still at the scene