Manchester unit on the hunt for tricksters

A NATIONAL reporting centre opens in Manchester today to target fraud.

Greater Manchester Police is supporting Action Fraud, saying it will build on its current success in investigating the crime.

Fraudsters cost the UK over £30 billion each year and target individuals and businesses alike.

But the centre, led by The National Fraud Authority (NFA), will provide a single point of contact for people to report incidents and gain crime prevention advice.

The NFA describes fraud as a “silent crime” with little focus being placed on victims — but the centre aims to redress the balance.

Victims can report all types of fraud, including identity, investment, credit card, payment and consumer fraud.

It also gives law enforcement and counter-fraud agencies better information to target fraudsters, protect the public and bring criminals to justice.

Data from police forces will be transferred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and analysed to identify patterns in fraud offending and form the basis of investigations.

Det Ins Neal Colburn, of GMP’s economic crime section, said: “GMP is proud to continue being at the forefront in the fight against fraud.

“Action Fraud will support victims, help prevent fraud and better enable GMP to investigate crime by giving us access to national intelligence. By working together, Action Fraud and GMP will be able to offer a better level of service to the public.”

GMP had achieved success in a number of high-profile fraud cases, including father and daughter Cornel and Cornelia Oprea who were jailed last February for skimming credit cards, and Jason Hart, from Bolton, who was jailed after duping eBay buyers out of goods worth £23,500.

And Operation Lewistown is an on-going operation targeting businesses that have been set up, or have been taken over, for fraudulent purposes. So far, numerous criminal businesses have been disrupted, saving businesses and the financial industry a potential £2.5 million in losses.

NFA chief executive Dr Bernard Herdan said: “Action Fraud is at the heart of our strategy to make the UK a more hostile environment for fraud.”The vital information it provides to the police through the NFIB will help tighten the net on fraudsters.”

Individuals or business operators who have been a victim of fraud in the last 12 months can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or textphone 0300 123 2050.