Staff Prevent £20,000 attempted fraud
August 30, 2019
Following a recent focus by our Local Counter Fraud Specialist on payment diversion fraud, through the use of intelligence bulletins and articles in the Trusts staff communications, eagle eyed procurement and finance staff thwarted an attempt by fraudsters to divert a payment of over £20,000 meant for a company supplying services to the Trust.
With around 4,000 reports of banking payment fraud being received nationally in a 6 month period, and average monthly losses of £12-15 million, this incident shows the value of the fraud prevention work being done by SAFE on behalf of the Trust.
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As fraud risks continue to evolve, staying informed and vigilant is more important than ever. This summer, SAFE is proud to launch a comprehensive Fraud Awareness Webinar Series designed to equip our clients and the wider healthcare community with the knowledge and tools to detect, prevent, and respond to fraud effectively. Why Attend? Fraud is a growing threat that impacts organisations across all industries. Our expert-led webinars will cover a range of timely topics, including mandate fraud, imposter fraud, the fraud triangle and the benefits of early intervention.

When Sarah Whitaker approached an introductory care agency to find a carer for her 89 year old father she expected they would refer a suitably qualified and professional carer. Instead, Sarah was 'horrified' to discover that an unqualified imposter had been in her fathers home for almost three weeks! Unfortunately Sarah's story, reported by Sky News , is not as uncommon as one might expect. In January 2024, a man admitted impersonating a nurse and accessing resuscitation and children's areas at a hospital in Glasgow (BBC News) . SAFE has experience of dealing with a number of similar cases where an unqualified imposter had been found to be working in place of the qualified professional that was expected.