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Press Release

15 November 2024

Council Joins Movement to Shine a Spotlight on Fraud

Fareham Borough Council has joined hundreds of organisations in partnership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world's largest anti-fraud organisation, for this year’s International Fraud Awareness Week, from 17–23 November.

In 2023/24 Fareham Borough Council identified 170 separate cases of fraud, to the value of almost £150,000. The most common frauds currently impacting the Council are:

Housing
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Support
Council Tax

That is why the Council is supporting International Fraud Awareness Week, to promote anti-fraud awareness and education to proactively fight fraud across the Fareham community.

Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, Cllr Joanne Burton, said: “We have seen a significant increase in the number of fraud cases identified – the highest since 2019/20. These scams particularly target vulnerable people in our community, so this International Fraud Week we will be raising awareness as much as possible. I encourage residents to head to our website to familiarise themselves with how to report fraud and help to protect fellow Fareham residents.”

During International Fraud Week the Council will be communicating information about the risk of fraud both internally to its staff and externally to Fareham residents, including the work that officers are undertaking to counter such fraud. For more information about current scams and other fraudulent activity, including how to report fraud, please go to www.fareham.gov.uk/fraud

ACFE president John Gill, J.D., CFE, added: “Fraud is an issue that unfortunately affects people from all walks of life around the world and it takes many forms. Whether it’s a trusted employee stealing from a small business, or organised rings of fraudsters targeting seniors in our community, most people know someone who’s been victimised by fraud. That’s why it’s so important for organisations to join in this fight together to raise awareness during this week.”

For more information about International Fraud Awareness Week, visit www.FraudWeek.com.

ENDS