Fraud Intelligence

Gavin McFarlane, Temple Chambers Cardiff

Viagra, Celebrex, Propecia, Xenical, Phentamine, Adipex, Bontril, Ionaman, Meridia, Didrex, Tenuate, Zyban, Valtrex, Acyclovir, Ortho tri-cyclon, Claritin, Flonase, Ventolin, Tramadol, Imigran, Caverject, Menifin, Valium, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam, Bromazepam, Phenobarbitone, Zoloft, Buspar, Imipramine, Amoxicillin, Cephalaxin, Inderal, Adalat, Enalapril, Atenolol, Zovirax, Diflucan, Relenza…What do these all have in common? They are all available via the Internet from online ‘pharmacies’. To compile the list took a couple of minutes’ searching, and it represents only a fraction of drugs, mainly prescription-only goods, available online, says John Allan, Head of Pharmaceutical Investigations at Carratu International (www.carratu.com).

Protecting the delivery of welfare systems with new technologies could lead to more than secure payments says Calum Bunney.

The US corporate scandals have put financial statement fraud under the spotlight. Questions arise not only as to whether a company has attempted to illegally manipulate its accounts, but also whether its auditors are party to an attempt to mislead its investors, lenders and other stakeholders. Paul Barnes, Professor of Fraud Risk Management and Director of the International Fraud Prevention Research Centre, Nottingham Business School, and Jill Lambell of Leeds Business School review the literature on this topical area.

The investigation started in the same way as numerous others on which I had been instructed, recalls Sean Holohan of BDO Stoy Hayward’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Services Team. The group finance director of an international managed accommodation provider, Jim, rang to say that he had received an anonymous letter alleging incredible misuse of company funds and assets…

Timon Molloy, Editor

Imaginative fraudsters have issued a fake insurance policy in the name of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which claims to protect businesses against losses caused by an earlier false ICC insurance guarantee. ICC officials this summer..

As matters stand it takes about a year to bring someone back to the UK to face British justice and it may take as long as six years to extradite someone from the UK. A new Extradition Bill introduced into Parliament in November aims to reduce this..

The Crime (International Cooperation) Bill, published by the Home Office in November, would give UK police access to the Schengen Information System (SIS), a Europe-wide database of wanted and missing persons and property. The UK Information..

Following Lord Auld’s recommendations last year and a UK Government White Paper, “Justice for All”, this July, the new Criminal Justice Bill includes provision for trial by a judge sitting alone in cases of serious fraud...

Alan Osborn and Keith Nuthall