ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Fraudsters Have Come up With a Strategy to Operate From Another Jurisdiction to Evade Action

A recent internal memo from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), obtained by Labour under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that a staggering 75% of advance fee frauds are exclusively orchestrated by international criminals
PUBLISHED JAN 29, 2024
Cover Image Source: Boonchai/Getty Images
Cover Image Source: Boonchai/Getty Images

Even as governments, firms, and agencies are scrambling to contain a surge in online scams, fraudsters are constantly coming up with sophisticated tactics to lure people and to escape the law by operating from another jurisdiction. In a recent example, an international fraud ring preying on unsuspecting individuals through elaborate fake lottery scams, is being carried out by individuals overseas, which makes it hard for authorities to track them down.

The modus operandi of this scam involves a deceitful practice known as advance fee fraud, which is a small amount that victims are enticed into paying upfront, with the promise of a much larger sum purportedly owed to them as their winnings in a lottery, bank refunds, tax rebates, or inheritances. A recent internal memo from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) revealed that a staggering 75% of advance fee frauds are exclusively orchestrated by criminals in another country. This translates to an estimated 409,000 offenses per year, constituting one in eight of all reported fraud cases.

Image Source: Photo by Sora Shimazaki | Pexels
Image Source: Photo by Sora Shimazaki | Pexels

Leaders have expressed deep concern about the extent of these international fraud operations and the apparent inaction on the part of the government, saying that, "The parasites behind these international fraud gangs are feasting on Britain, and all the government can offer in response is another global summit." The opposition is calling for concrete actions to be taken immediately by foreign countries to dismantle the criminal networks targeting the UK. They proposed that negotiations on trade access with other countries should include collaboration on tackling fraud as an integral part of any deals.

Fraud has become the most commonly experienced crime in the UK, particularly in the past few years. Thousands of hardworking individuals and pensioners are falling victim to these scams, resulting in the loss of their hard-earned wages and savings on a daily basis.

People walk past a Topshop and Topman store on Oxford Street | Getty Images | Photo by Scott Barbour
People walk past a Topshop and Topman store on Oxford Street | Getty Images | Photo by Scott Barbour

In response to the rising threat of online scams, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said that the government has indeed taken substantial steps to combat fraud. He highlighted the collaboration with leading tech companies, including Facebook and TikTok, in the development and commitment to the online fraud charter, which is a groundbreaking agreement aimed at tackling internet scams. In addition to that, the government has implemented a national fraud squad to pursue the most sophisticated criminals and deployed intelligence agencies globally to apprehend fraudsters wherever they operate.

Despite these claims, authorities continue to face questions about how sufficient the government's actions are when it comes to addressing the scale and severity with which fraudsters are operating. The debate underscores the need for a comprehensive and coordinated international effort to dismantle these fraudulent operations, with both political parties acknowledging the urgency of the matter.

As the battle against international fraud rings intensifies, it is imperative for governments to collaborate, share intelligence, and implement stringent measures to protect their citizens, as part of international trade policies. The victims of these scams, often unsuspecting and vulnerable individuals, deserve robust actions to bring the perpetrators to justice and to prevent further financial devastation on a global scale.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The owner of the collection of Danny Lyon SNCC Civil Rights Posters was left astonished in the end.
11 hours ago
After Harrison bought a signed speed bag for $250, he happened to meet the star at a dinner.
14 hours ago
The contestant, Doug, had a hard time coming up with a sensible answer.
17 hours ago
While Jennings performed a half-baked trick, it still managed to thoroughly entertain the fans.
1 day ago
The player, Andy Schwartz registered the first loss of a car since Seacrest took over as host.
1 day ago
The guest kept his grandparents' antique instruments under his bed for years.
1 day ago
Harris wasn't the only one who came up with an answer that shocked everyone.
1 day ago
Despite getting a high auction estimate, the owner of the Meiji Period lamp chose to keep it.
2 days ago
The player, Gabriel Berkowitz pulled off a perfect night winning over $45,000 and a car.
2 days ago
Harvey showed no mercy after he found out that Sweet Lou Dunbar didn't know how apps work.
2 days ago
The founder of Plop Star made an unforgettable entry and a sad exit from the show.
3 days ago
The host is otherwise quick to reprimand families for backing absurd answers.
3 days ago
While the Marvel comic book fetched a $50,000 appraisal, Harrison felt it was too rich for him.
3 days ago
Jimmy Alexander became the first player to lose a brand-new car on season 43 of the show.
4 days ago
The contestant, Brianne Peterson got extremely unlucky with her letter picks for the final puzzle.
4 days ago
The guest was told that the Jasper Johns Flag Print wouldn't be valuable but it was worth thousands.
4 days ago
It didn’t help that Alvin Rosales was playfully scolded by the host just before losing the Bonus Round.
5 days ago
The photos featured some looks of the show's legendary former host, Alex Trebek, as well.
5 days ago
The player, Kate Stuntz, pulled off a miraculous win to take home over $68,000 and a trip to Iceland.
5 days ago
The owner couldn’t believe the value of Jane Peterson’s "The Floats" gouache painting.
6 days ago