Payment diversion is a type of impersonation fraud. In its most basic form, it started when humans began exchanging products and services for payment, be that early coinage, a sheep, a cartwheel or a flagon of wine.

Close your eyes. Imagine a fraudster. What do they look like? A shadowy figure, deeply suspicious and clearly criminal, working outside of the organisation and planning sophisticated ways to get around your safeguards?

Tenancy fraud, often called social housing fraud, remains an enigma to much of the public. While some councils and Private Registered Providers (PRPs) take seriously their responsibility to prevent and detect tenancy fraud, others do little to tackle the threat and harm such fraud poses.

The Charity Commission is today warning charity leaders to protect their organisations against fraud and cybercrime, after new figures show charities reported almost £8.6 million of lost funds in the last financial year.

As Charity Fraud Awareness Week 2021 begins, I recall the journey we’ve been on since the initiative first started six years ago. That might not sound like a long time but considering what’s happened to the UK and the World, it’s a very long time indeed.

Launching today, preventcharityfraud.org.uk is a handy one-stop shop, designed to give charities information, advice and practical tools to fight fraud and stay safe from harm.