Big(ger) numbers

Fraud rose to its highest level for a decade in 2005 according to KPMG Forensic’s Fraud Barometer. The measure, which covers Crown Court cases when the charges are over £100,000, recorded 222 cases involving over UK£900 million, in the last 12 months, against 174 cases, worth UK£329 million, in 2004. One case of fraudulently acquired loans by metals trading company RBG Resources plc is alone valued at UK£260 million.