Current timestamp: 30/01/2023 19:00:55
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

city-header-logo-white ( 1)

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Abnormal vehicle load
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Request your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

ONE YEAR SINCE LOCKDOWN: Fighting fraud during the pandemic

Main article content

Navigation

Fraud
Press releases

09:48 24/03/2021

  • The City of London Police are the national policing lead for fraud and run Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.
  • Action Fraud has received 6,073 reports of coronavirus related fraud and cyber crime since 01 March 2020, resulting in losses of £34.5m.
  • Dedicated national fraud units have made over 150 arrests and taken down over 2,000 websites, phone numbers and email addresses linked to frauds since the pandemic began.

The City of London Police has arrested 156 criminals believed to have been committing fraud during the national restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Data released today by the national policing lead for fraud shows an increase in online shopping fraud (42%) and romance fraud (20%) being committed in the last 11 months, compared to FY 19/20, and a decrease (15.5%) in computer software service fraud, showing the effect the pandemic has had on the type of fraud criminals committed. In total, they have received over 416,000 reports of fraud and cyber crime with reports of online shopping fraud being at an all-time high since records began.

Additionally, the force was faced with the new threat of coronavirus-related fraud and cyber crime. Today’s data shows the peak of these reports were received in April and May 2020, and another spike in January 2021, following a coronavirus vaccine phishing campaign.

City of London Police Commissioner, Ian Dyson, said:

“The past year has been incredibly challenging for every single one of us. Sadly, we have seen devious criminals taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic as a means to commit fraud, often honing in on people’s anxieties and the changes that have occurred to their daily lives. Policing has had to adapt quickly to what is an ever-changing public health situation, but nothing has stopped us from pursuing these individuals and disrupting their activity.

“We are committed to protecting the public from fraud and have worked closely with all our partners in law enforcement and the private sector to make arrests, gather evidence, and ultimately bring criminals before the courts.”

Police action

The City of London Police runs the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which assess the reports made to Action Fraud by members of the public. The NFIB can undertake immediate disruption activity to prevent more people falling victim to a fraud, by taking down websites, phone numbers and email addresses used to facilitate these crimes. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,030 websites, 425 phone numbers and 597 email addresses have been taken down by the NFIB.

In addition, the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) have taken down several websites believed to be selling counterfeit goods relating to coronavirus such as testing kits and facemasks. The unit has also made 29 arrests since the pandemic began and seen a number of high profile charges, such as that of David Chambers who is alleged to have administered a fake vaccine to a 92 year old woman at her home and charged her £160, and Frank Ludlow who was convicted for selling fake coronavirus treatment kits across the world.

The Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), another specialist fraud unit with a national remit, has also made a number of significant arrests related to coronavirus crime. The unit, comprised of officers from the City of London and Metropolitan Police and funded by the banking industry, has executed 99 warrants since the start of the pandemic and made 56 arrests, 27 percent of which were of criminals committing coronavirus-related “smishing”.

“Smishing” is a term used to describe a phishing attempt delivered by SMS text message rather than via email. These messages contain a false call to action and encourage recipients to click on malicious links designed to harvest people’s personal and financial details as well as usernames and passwords. Examples seen by the DCPCU during the coronavirus outbreak include messages purporting to be from government, offering people financial support including one off payments and loans, and messages impersonating the NHS offering people the coronavirus vaccine.

The unit has already seen 30 criminals convicted since March 2020 and has taken down 773 social media accounts used to commit fraud, helping to further protect members of the public from fraud. On 11 March 2021, officers executed their tenth warrant of 2021, where they arrested and charged Taige Gallagher, 21, of Perth Road, Wood Green, for fraud by false representation and possession of articles for use in fraud. Gallagher pleaded guilty to both charges at Westminster Magistrates Court on 13 March 2021 and is currently awaiting sentencing.

He was identified by the DCPCU, and their partners in the telecoms industry, as sending out bulk text messages purporting to be from the NHS. The messages had an embedded hyperlink that requested recipients enter their personal and financial information, and in doing so victims believed they were confirming their eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine. This information would then be used to commit fraud.

As well as criminals imitating the NHS through phishing and smishing scams, the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) saw examples of key workers being specifically targeted by fraudsters. Last year, IFED officers arrested a man suspected of using social media to advertise discounts for NHS workers on fake and invalid car insurance policies. This meant that anyone who purchased a policy was technically uninsured, and could have faced a fine or points on their licence.

City of London Police Assistant Commissioner for Economic and Cyber Crime, Angela McLaren, said:

“Tackling fraud requires a whole system approach and I am extremely thankful to all of our partners who have helped us achieve these results.

“Whilst these figures show the work of the national fraud units, there have been many more examples of good work by local police forces up and down the country, who continue to apprehend fraudsters and stop their criminal activity whilst balancing many other policing priorities.”

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

City of London Police

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Become a police constable
  • News
  • Find a police station
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms and conditions

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention advice
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • City of London Corporation

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.