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ECCTA (Section 199): Failing to Prevent Fraud – Are You Defensible?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:14:35 GMT

Section 199 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduced a new corporate offence that significantly raises the bar on fraud risk management.

Large organisations can now be criminally liable if an employee, agent, or other associated person commits fraud for the organisation’s benefit—and the organisation did not have reasonable fraud prevention procedures in place.

This is a strict liability offence. Prosecutors do not need to prove senior management knowledge or intent. If fraud occurs and the organisation cannot demonstrate an adequate prevention framework, liability follows.

The only defence: reasonable procedures

The sole statutory defence is that the organisation had reasonable procedures in place to prevent fraud, or that it was reasonable not to have such procedures. In practice, regulators have made clear that “reasonable” will be interpreted robustly.

Organisations should be acting now to:

Conduct a documented fraud risk assessment covering business models, revenue streams, incentive structures, third-party exposure, and jurisdictional risk.
Design proportionate prevention controls aligned to identified risks, including financial controls, approval thresholds, segregation of duties, and oversight of agents and intermediaries.
Set the tone from the top , with clear board ownership, senior accountability, and demonstrable commitment to fraud prevention.
Implement targeted training and communications so employees and associated persons understand fraud risks, red flags, and reporting routes.
Maintain monitoring, reporting, and review mechanisms , including whistleblowing channels, audits, and periodic reassessment as the business evolves.
Evidence everything . Policies without implementation, or controls without records, will not support a defence.

Why this matters

Section 199 fundamentally shifts fraud risk from an ethical and compliance issue to a core criminal exposure. Organisations that treat fraud prevention as a “paper exercise” will struggle to rely on the defence. Those that embed it into governance, controls, and culture will be best positioned to protect both the business and its leadership. In short: if fraud happens, can you prove you did all that was reasonable to prevent it? If not, now is the time to act.

2025 Webinar Recordings Available

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:47:07 GMT

Thank you to everyone who attended one of our fraud prevention webinars in 2025.

For those who missed them, you can now watch all the recordings at your convenience on the SAFE YouTube channel.

Whether you want to find out more about the drivers of fraud, or explore strategies for preventing emerging threats such as dual employment and imposter fraud, we've got a webinar for you.

All the links you need are below, and we've included links to additional resources available elsewhere on the SAFE website.

Preventing Dual Employment Fraud - https://youtu.be/fy2jHL2aIUQ
Preventing Employee Working Whilst Sick Fraud - https://youtu.be/cY-ipC6A4pI with an associated article on our website .
An Introduction to Imposter Fraud in an NHS Setting - https://youtu.be/s-x1ALFnsI0 with an associated article and fraud prevention quick guide on our website .
The Fraud Triangle and You - https://youtu.be/3u-nLzeNl8Q with an associated article on our website .
An Introduction to Mandate Fraud - https://youtu.be/F08DANxaSBk with an associated article and fraud prevention quick guide on our website .

We will commence a new series of fraud prevention webinars in the New Year and it would be great to see you.

Don’t miss this opportunity to bolster your fraud prevention strategies and protect your organisation from financial crime. Together, we can build a SAFE workplace.

Project WISE: Protecting NHS resources

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:33:18 GMT

SAFE – Security and Fraud Experts and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be part of Project WISE (Workforce Integrity and System Efficiency), a proactive initiative using data and advanced analytics to strengthen fraud detection across the NHS.

The NHSCFA estimates that £1.346 billion of NHS funding is vulnerable to loss through fraud, bribery and corruption in England.

With fraud posing a significant risk to NHS resources each year, we’ve joined forces with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and four other NHS organisations across the South East and South West to pilot this first-of-its-kind initiative.

The pilot is helping to identify emerging fraud risks and patterns, turning complex data into actionable intelligence that supports local and regional counter fraud teams.

By collaborating with the NHSCFA we’re strengthening transparency, improving system controls and ensuring NHS resources are directed where they matter most - ultimately supporting patient care.

Andy Knight, Head of Counter Fraud at SAFE - Security and Fraud Experts, said:

" Project WISE is a really exciting piece of collaborative proactive counter fraud work that is helping to break down silos, share good practice across participating organisations, and use data science expertise to prevent and detect fraud."

You can find out more about Project WISE from the NHSCFA here and you can read more of Andy's thoughts on the project in his blog post on the Our Dorset - Dorset Innovation Hub.

If you're a business owner, charity, school or public sector organisation and you would like more information about how SAFE can help your organisation identify, prevent, and investigate fraud please get in touch for an informal, no obligation chat.

SAFE Supports International Fraud Awareness Week 2025

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:36:57 GMT

SAFE – Security and Fraud Experts is proud to announce its active participation in International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW), taking place from 16–22 November 2025.

This global initiative unites organisations and communities around the world to raise awareness, promote education, and take collective action against fraud.

As a trusted leader in security and fraud prevention, SAFE is committed to empowering businesses and individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, prevent, and respond to fraudulent activity.

Throughout IFAW, SAFE will share expert insights, practical resources, and real-world strategies designed to strengthen fraud resilience across sectors.

“Fraud continues to evolve, and awareness is our first line of defence,” said Andy Knight, Head of Counter Fraud at SAFE . “By supporting International Fraud Awareness Week, SAFE reinforces its mission to help organisations build a culture of integrity, transparency, and vigilance.”

During the week, SAFE will be sharing a series of initiatives including:

Educational webinars hosted by SAFE and other industry experts.
Daily awareness posts across social media channels highlighting key fraud prevention tips.
Collaborative campaigns with partners to promote fraud prevention best practices.

International Fraud Awareness Week, organised by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) , encourages companies, government agencies, and the public to work together to minimise the impact of fraud worldwide.

SAFE invites clients, partners, and the wider community to join in supporting this important cause. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against fraud.

Learn more about International Fraud Awareness Week: https://www.fraudweek.com
Follow SAFE’s activities: https://www.securityandfraudexperts.org.uk

Renewed as Named Supplier for NHS Shared Business Services Framework

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:09:31 GMT

We are delighted to announce that Dorset HealthCare t/a SAFE - Security and Fraud Experts has been named as a supplier on the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Audit Services for Health Framework (SBS10517). Our appointment covers Lot 3 – Counter Fraud Services, enabling NHS and wider public sector organisations to procure our services with confidence through this trusted framework.

Through this appointment, we will continue to support healthcare and public sector bodies in tackling risk and inefficiency, mitigating financial threats, and strengthening service delivery through robust audit, counter fraud, and workplace investigation solutions. Established through a rigorous tender process, this framework agreement not only offers value for money, but also aligns with UK audit regulations, ensuring compliance.”

https://www.sbs.nhs.uk/

https://www.sbs.nhs.uk/services/framework-agreements/audit-services-for-health/

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) was created in 2004 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria , a European leader in digital services and software development, it makes life easier for NHS employees, patients and suppliers, and delivers value for money to the taxpayer.

Proud members of the NHS family, NHS SBS is the country’s leading supplier of corporate services to the NHS, they manage over 40 framework agreements covering a wide range of clinical and corporate goods and services.

Committed to being a force for good, NHS SBS is dedicated to acting responsibly and sustainably at organisational, team and individual level. Sharing common values and unity of purpose with the rest of the NHS family, its solutions are underpinned by cutting-edge technologies and the teams’ expertise, in-depth understanding of the NHS, and commitment to service excellence.

Stay Ahead of Fraud This Summer: Join Our Fraud Awareness Webinar Series

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:26:37 GMT

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.

Webinar Series Highlights:

Expert Insights: Learn from experienced counter fraud professionals.
Interactive Sessions: Participate in Q&A discussions and real-world case studies.
Practical Tools: Gain actionable tips and resources to enhance your fraud awareness.
Flexible Scheduling: Join live sessions or access recordings at your convenience .

Who Should Attend?
This series is ideal for healthcare managers, temporary staffing teams, HR professionals, finance and accounts payable teams, risk management professionals, care home and domiciliary care providers, and anyone interested in strengthening their fraud awareness and prevention skills.

Dates & Registration:
The webinar series runs from Thursday 24 July to Friday 08 August 2025. SAFE clients can secure their spot today by contacting their Client Engagement Lead or using the 'contact us' button on this website.

The fraud triangle and you (Thursday, July 24 · 12:30 - 1pm) – Open to SAFE clients only, the webinar will be of interest to managers and HR professionals within NHS funded services.
An introduction to mandate fraud (Thursday, July 31 · 12:30 - 1pm) – Open to SAFE clients only, the webinar will be of interest to finance and accounts payable staff within NHS funded services.
An introduction to imposter fraud in an NHS setting (Thursday, August 7 · 12:30 - 1pm) – Open to SAFE clients only, the webinar will be of interest to healthcare managers and temporary staffing teams within NHS funded services.
An introduction to imposter fraud in an independent healthcare setting (Friday, August 8 · 12:30 - 1pm) - Open to all, the webinar will be of interest to domiciliary care managers, care home managers, and temporary staffing agencies. Register here .

Don’t miss this opportunity to bolster your fraud prevention strategies and protect your organisation from financial crime. Together, we can build a SAFE workplace.

ISO Audit Passed with Flying Colours

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:26:21 GMT

We are excited to announce that we have recently had the ISO 9001:2015 audit and can confidently say we passed with flying colours! This is a real indicator of our ongoing commitment to quality of our products and services for our existing and future customers.

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). We have chosen to use the standard for many years now to demonstrate our ability to consistently provide products and services that always meet and exceed our customer and regulatory requirements.

Benefits of ISO 9001

There are many key benefits to having ISO 9001 for both us as an organisation and certainly for you as our loyal customer.

These benefits include:

For us -

Assisting the management team by implementing an efficient, standardised, and streamlined management process.
Ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 accreditation, a mandatory requirement for contracts with certain public sector organisations.
Communicating a positive and professional message to both staff and customers.
Identifying and promoting more efficient, time-saving processes to enhance operational effectiveness.
Highlighting areas of deficiency and providing actionable solutions for improvement.
Reducing waste and unnecessary costs through preventive measures and process optimization.
Supporting continuous assessment and fostering an environment of ongoing improvement.

For you -

Driving continuous improvement in the quality of our services and overall customer experience.
Ensuring consistent on-time delivery to meet and exceed client expectations.
Fostering a proactive approach to problem-solving, with a commitment to delivering the highest standard of service.
Reducing product returns and customer complaints, serving as clear indicators of enhanced service quality.
Demonstrating our dedication to excellence through independent audits, reinforcing our confidence in delivering the very best consistently.
Enhancing communication channels with customers to strengthen relationships and responsiveness.

Bogus Healthcare Professionals

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:54:10 GMT

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.

There can be a number of reasons why an imposter may report for duty:

to commit further offences of theft and/or fraud, or to cause physical harm including sexual offences.
because they are being controlled by an Organised Crime Group (OCG) or exploited by individuals as victims of modern slavery.
because they can't work in a healthcare setting using their own identity, perhaps due to previous criminal convictions, or because they have no right to work in the UK.

Whatever the reason, failing to identify and sanction these imposters and those that facilitate them, places patients, the people we hold most dearly, at risk of harm. At SAFE we are experienced at working with professional regulatory bodies and the Police to bring the perpetrators to justice.

SAFE has produced the following quick guide to highlight the problem of people impersonating medical professionals.

Our highly experienced team of professional investigators are able to help organisations ensure that they have robust checks in place to prevent and identify this type of crime.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help protect patients from imposters who claim to be healthcare professionals.

International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2024

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:00:32 GMT

International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2024 takes place from 17-23 November, and SAFE continues to support this global effort to minimise the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education.

Fraud and cybercrime account for over 40% of all crime in England and Wales, affecting more people, more often, than any other crime. The social and economic cost to individuals is estimated to be in excess of £4.7 billion a year.

So don’t wait until #fraudweek to become a fraud fighter!

The more aware we all are about fraud, the less likely we are to fall victim to it, so we’ve pulled together some great tips and advice to help you protect yourself, your friends and family, and your business.

Here are some fraud fighting tips to help you:

How scam-savvy are you? Put your ability to spot a scam to the test with this quick quiz from Take Five to Stop Fraud.
Learn about the psychological tactics of fraudsters here .
Fraud can take place just about anywhere. Online, on social media, by email, by phone, on your doorstep and elsewhere. Learn more about common frauds here .
Are you oversharing on social media? Do you reveal information that could be used by a fraudster or identity thief? Find out more here .
Improve your cyber security with 6 simple actions , find out more here .
Are you a business owner? Do you know about Business Email Compromise? If not, get yourself over to the National Cyber Security Centre to learn more .

Report all genuine suspicions of fraud, bribery or corruption against the NHS to your Local Counter Fraud Specialist or to Crimestoppers on free-phone 0800 028 40 60 or online .

Report fraud and cyber crime against an individual or business to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 12:05:56 GMT

According to data from Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, more than 33,000 people had their social media or email accounts hacked in the 12 months to August 2024, and victims lost a total of £1.4 million.

Fraud is now the most commonly experienced crime in the UK, with 1 in 17 adults falling victim to fraudsters. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau indicate that 80% of fraud is cyber-enabled.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, an international initiative that aims to educate everyone about cyber safety. To mark the event, Action Fraud and NHS England have launched awareness campaigns to remind people that there are simple ways to protect themselves and our NHS from online threats.

The message from NHS England is clear, cyber crime threatens patient safety, it can be a matter of life and death, but adopting the following good cyber behaviours is a great defence against cyber criminals:

use strong passwords
turn on multifactor authentication
recognise and report phishing
keep up to date with learning

You find out more about the NHS England campaign and access resources here .

You can find out more about the Action Fraud campaign here and find more information about protecting yourself from fraud, here .

SAFE win a place on the YPO framework

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 08:35:57 GMT

Following the submission of a successful bid, SAFE are proud to be included in the YPO Internal Audit and Assurance, and Counter Fraud Investigation Services Framework. Beating stiff competition, our bid was the highest scoring in Lot 3: Counter Fraud Investigation Services.

YPO is one of the largest public sector purchasing consortiums in the UK, and the inclusion of SAFE on the framework means that the following organisations can easily access our award winning, cost-effective services:

• Local authority councils,

• Educational establishments,

• Police, fire and rescue, maritime/coastguard agency emergency services,

• NHS bodies, the HSC (Northern Ireland) and ambulance services,

• Central government departments and their agencies,

• Registered charities,

• And more, full list available here .

The framework offers buyers two routes to market, Direct Award and Further Competition, Direct Award is a quick, simple, and compliant option that achieves value for money for all customers who wish to call off from the framework agreement.

SAFE has the expertise, experience and capacity to provide a high quality services to your organisation and the YPO framework makes it easier to engage our services and start realising the benefits. Find out more here .

Oversharing Personal Information

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 12:22:35 GMT

In a world of 24/7 social media, and apps for everything from flights to coffee’s, oversharing personal information online affects more of us than we might think.

Whether you’ve shared a seemingly innocent photo of your dog, a video of you supporting your favourite team, or you’ve unwittingly given away details of your banking or passport details, you could be revealing information that is invaluable to a fraudster or identity thief.

There is increasing evidence that employee’s over-sharing personal information on social media platforms can enable or facilitate fraud against their employer; businesses like yours!

Fraudsters are using these social media platforms to research their ‘targets’. Using the data they gather, they may create an email account that appears to be an employee, they may spoof the employee’s business email address or in sophisticated cases they may even gain control of the employee’s business email account. Fraud risks include:

Cyber enabled salary diversion fraud: Fraudsters posing as an employee and changing the bank account that the employee’s salary is paid into and diverting their pay to the fraudsters account.
Fraud against salary sacrifice schemes: Fraudsters accessing an existing salary sacrifice account, or creating a new account, with the compromised credentials, and then amending personal contact details before requesting to purchase an item.
CEO impersonation fraud: Criminals posing as a senior person in the business to persuade staff to make an urgent payment.

Whilst fraudsters are becoming ever more sophisticated in their crimes, there are several fraud prevention actions that can be taken by businesses and individuals, to reduce the risk of fraud, these include:

Assessing the risk by measuring the extent to which employee’s are sharing personal information that may enable criminals to commit fraud.
Raising awareness amongst staff, of the value of their personal information to fraudsters.
Providing resources to empower employee’s to take control of the personal information that they share online.
Technical solutions such as multi-factor authentication on business email accounts can protect your business and those you do business with.

As individuals, one of the best ways to avoid oversharing on social media is to set your account to private. Everything we share or post online tells people something about us. All of the major social media platforms have step-by-step guides to managing your privacy, this article by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides links to the privacy sections of most major sites.

Never share details publicly, that could be pieced together and exploited by a fraudster – e.g. your age, birthday, address, workplace, first school, mother’s maiden name, relatives’ or pets’ names, or other obvious passwords.

At SAFE, our team of experienced, professionally qualified counter fraud specialists can help your business to mitigate the financial risks associated with employee's oversharing personal information.

International Fraud Awareness Week 2023 (12-18 Nov)

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 14:56:44 GMT

SAFE are proud to be in their seventh year as official supporters of International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2023. This years event takes place from 12-18 November but you don't need to wait until #fraudweek to be a fraud fighter.

We've got lots of great tips and advice here and we'll add more as we approach #fraudweek so make sure you keep checking back here.

Be sure to like and follow our LinkedIn and X accounts to stay up-to-date with the very latest fraud prevention advice.

Fraud and cyber crime account for over 40% of all estimated crime in England and Wales, affecting more people, more often, than any other crime. The social and economic cost to individuals is estimated to be in excess of £4.7 billion a year.

The more aware we all are about fraud, the less likely we are to fall victim to it.

Here are some fraud fighting tips to help you:

Get scam alerts - Sign up for WHICH? scam alerts to get alerted to the latest scams and receive practical advice to keep you one step ahead of fraudsters. They also have details of support services for victims of fraud.
Improve your cyber security with 6 simple actions .
Has your email address or one or more of your passwords been exposed due to a data breach? - Check for free here .
How scam-savvy are you? Put your ability to spot a scam to the test with this quick quiz from Take Five to Stop Fraud.
Need to brush up on your skills? Visit the Scam Academy .
Report all genuine suspicions of fraud, bribery or corruption against the NHS to your Local Counter Fraud Specialist or to Crimestoppers on free-phone 0800 028 40 60 or online at www.cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud .
Report fraud and cyber crime against an individual or business to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Spotlight on 'working whilst sick' fraud

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:43:46 GMT

53% of all fraud reports made directly to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHS CFA) in 2022-23 related to NHS staff fraud . The NHS CFA estimate that £22.5m of public money is vulnerable to fraud as a result.

One particular type of NHS staff fraud that continues to persist is known as ‘working whilst sick’ fraud. This is where an employee is absent from their NHS position due to illness but starts working, or continues to work, for another employer.

This type of fraud is not confined to the NHS, businesses across many different sectors will fall victim and suffer financial losses and associated costs as a result.

The Impact of ‘working whilst sick’ fraud

Increased staffing costs from covering the absence with temporary staff and/or overtime.
Staff absence can increase pressure on existing team members as temporary replacement staff may be less experienced and/or qualified.
Absence can be prolonged because the employee is obtaining a financial advantage from their actions.
The resulting disciplinary, professional conduct, and/or criminal proceedings can be time consuming and expensive and may result in additional costs associated with recruiting and training replacement staff.

Preventing ‘working whilst sick’ fraud

There are a number of actions that organisations/businesses can take to prevent ‘working whilst sick’ fraud, these include:

Having policies and procedures that clearly define and communicate to all staff their responsibilities in relation to secondary employment, i.e., are they allowed to undertake secondary employment and in what circumstances? TIP: this could be included as a standard clause in employment contracts.

Having policies and procedures that clearly define and communicate to all staff their responsibilities for declaring potential conflicts of interest, such as secondary employment or business interests. TIP: A digital reporting tool makes the process of recording and managing conflicts of interest more efficient.

If staff have declared secondary employment and they are subsequently absent from their primary role, remind them in writing of their responsibilities as defined in their contract and/or company policy. TIP: this can help to reduce investigations into staff who work elsewhere because they didn’t know their responsibilities; it can also deter staff who may have thought nobody will know if they keep working for another employer whilst absent from their primary role.

Add a declaration to employee return to work forms, requiring them to declare whether or not they’ve done any other work during their absence. TIP: clearly define what work is, does it include paid, unpaid, voluntary, self-employed work?

Clearly define the consequences of failing to adhere to relevant company policy on secondary employment. TIP: Clearly communicating that it's a disciplinary offence and that your organisation will seek to recover any overpaid sick pay may act as a deterrent to staff.

At SAFE, our team of experienced, professionally qualified counter fraud specialists can help your business to mitigate the financial risks associated with ‘working whilst sick’ fraud.

Martyn's Law - Update

Wed, 31 May 2023 12:39:39 GMT

The DRAFT Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill sets out the requirements that, under Martyn’s Law, venues and other organisations will have to meet to ensure public safety. ‘Martyn’s Law’ is a tribute to Martyn Hett who was killed alongside 21 others in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

The draft bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Home Affairs Select Committee, ahead of formal introduction. The legislation has also been known as the Protect Duty in the build up to it being released. It forms part of the Government’s response to the Manchester Arena Inquiry Volume 1, which recommended the introduction of legislation to improve the safety and security of public venues.

The UK Home Office says:

“The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will help keep people safe and enhance national security by ensuring preparedness for, and protection from, terrorist attacks. Proportionate new security requirements will be introduced for certain public venues and locations.”

To find out more information on how Martyn's Law will impact your premises, head over to the Protect UK website where they have provided a detailed 'What you need to know' article.

If you would like to read the DRAFT Bill in full, please visit the GOV.uk website .

SAFE helps to develop national fraud prevention material

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:38:39 GMT

In 2021, SAFE delivered an innovative mandate fraud prevention exercise at Dorset HealthCare. The exercise aimed to raise awareness of this type of fraud amongst suppliers to the NHS, in particular SME suppliers (small and medium-sized enterprises), to protect NHS resources from fraud losses.

A key element of the exercise was providing SME suppliers with fraud awareness and prevention material relating to password security and business email compromise, both enablers of mandate fraud.

As a result of our work at Dorset HealthCare, SAFE has been working with a Senior Fraud Prevention Officer from the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) to develop a national mandate fraud prevention resource pack for the NHS.

SAFE’s collaboration with NHSCFA has culminated in the publication of a blog post by Andy Knight, SAFE Head of Counter Fraud, on the NHSCFA Ngage portal. In the blog, Andy discusses the exercise and its success in reducing associated fraud risks and leading to a measured increase in fraud awareness.

Accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialists (LCFS), Directors of Finance, and Audit Committee Chairs nominated via NHSCFA can now access the resource pack and the blog post via the NHSCFA Ngage portal.

SAFE Scoops a National Award

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 14:28:16 GMT

SAFE are proud to announce that on the 3 November 2022 Laura Smith and Shawn Whitley received the National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) Annual Healthcare Security Award for Violence Reduction Initiative.

NAHS is a key stakeholder in Healthcare Security within the UK with formal links at home and abroad to: the Security Institute, Security Industry Authority and healthcare security organisations in Europe, the USA and Canada.

Each year NAHS hosts an annual conference for its 700+ UK members and presents awards for:

Healthcare Security Manager;
Security Innovation;
Violence Reduction Initiative;
Healthcare Security Team;
Healthcare Security Officer.

Awards are given following nominations from those who work with the nominees. In Laura and Shawn's case nominations were received from a number of clinicians and other healthcare professionals who they support, however one nomination stood out to the judging panel which summed up the quality of service that they deliver:

'My first contact with the team was December 2021 following an incident while on shift, involving being held at knife point by a patient. Laura contacted myself and the team for a debrief and continued her support since then. The team have supported myself at each step of the police investigation, and guided me through especially when there have been issues or delays. They have chased for answers from the investigation when I haven’t been able to get anywhere or I have not been in a place to follow this up fully and have ensured that the case has not been forgotten. Regular contact has been maintained at each development as well as genuine check in on my progress. Expert knowledge, professionalism and commitment continues to be demonstrated throughout.

I have been kept up to date and consulted at each stage, which has meant a great deal. It is thanks to Laura’s patience, knowledge, understanding and approach that I have been able to return to a job I love and worked so hard for, in all honestly I doubt I would have been able to otherwise. She supported alongside the trauma counselling I underwent, also supported my transition back into work encouraging and revisiting aspects I needed to rebuild my confidence in until I felt able to complete these tasks. Regular check in’s and contact has been maintained even nearly a year later normally over the phone, but also in person or on Teams. The team have demonstrated professional determination and commitment to supporting teams and improving aspects since the incident occurred, but also in creating lasting change to support all moving forward.

Although I can only speak of the impeccable support I personally have and continue to receive , others throughout the hospital speak highly of them. This incident happened when I had been qualified for 3 months, and as a new nurse to the trust I was unclear the role the team played, now however I couldn’t recommend them enough, and have turned to them for support not just from this but also when the ward has needed advice in regards to other situations occurring on the wards. The team are always prompt in providing support and encouragement when needed.'

In acceptance Laura and Shawn commented:

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award and hear the comments of those who we have supported but I would also like to mention my colleagues in the SAFE team.

We pride ourselves on a team approach and it is not just the work of the individual but the work of the collective which contributes to the services delivered to our clients in support of their staff.

Improve your cyber security with these six simple actions...

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:46:04 GMT

New statistics published by the Office For National Statistics (ONS) reveal that fraud offenses rose by 31% in the year ending March 2025, reaching around 4.2 million incidents—the highest recorded since the survey began in 2017

Two out of every three fraud victims suffer a financial loss and according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) 61% of fraud incidents in 2021/22 were cyber-related.

Take the fight to the fraudsters this International Fraud Awareness Week by following these 6 simple steps to improve your cyber security.

1. Use a strong and separate password for your email

If a hacker gets into your email, they could reset the passwords for your other accounts using the ‘forgot password’ feature. In fact it’s good practice to use separate passwords for all your important accounts such as banking and social media. Find out more in this short animation from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

2. Create strong passwords using 3 random words

An easy way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words. Don’t choose words that could easily be guessed, like children’s or pets names.

3. Save your passwords in your browser

Let your web browser remember your password for you by saving your passwords in your browser, this will help you manage multiple separate passwords.

4. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)

2FA adds an extra layer of security meaning that even if a fraudster has your password they won’t be able to access your accounts. Find out more in this short animation from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

5. Update your devices

Turn on automatic updates for software, apps, and operating systems to ensure that the most up-to-date and hopefully the most secure version is being used. You should also ensure that you have anti-virus software installed, many banks such as those listed below offer free software to customers and some companies offer discounts to NHS staff for premium software packages:

· Free anti-virus software for Santander , HSBC , and Natwest customers.

· NHS staff get 30% off Antivirus & Internet Security from Avast .

6. Back up your data

If the worst happens and your data is lost or stolen, a back up will enable you to recover most of what was lost. Many systems have an automatic backup function, enable this and your data will regularly be backed-up without you having to remember.

International Fraud Awareness Week (13-19 Nov)

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:00:03 GMT

SAFE are proud to be official supporters of International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2022. This years event takes place from 13-19 November but you don't need to wait until #fraudweek to be a fraud fighter.

We've got lots of great tips and advice here and we'll add more as we approach #fraudweek so make sure you keep checking back here.

Be sure to like and follow our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts to stay up-to-date with the very latest fraud prevention advice.

Fraud and cyber crime account for 44% of all estimated crime in England and Wales, affecting more people, more often, than any other crime. The social and economic cost to individuals is estimated to be £4.7 billion a year.

The more aware we all are about fraud, the less likely we are to fall victim to it.

Here are some fraud fighting tips to help you:

Get scam alerts - Sign up for WHICH? scam alerts to get alerted to the latest scams and receive practical advice to keep you one step ahead of fraudsters. They also have details of support services for victims of fraud.
Improve your cyber security with 6 simple actions .
Protect you devices and personal details - If you're an NHS employee, you can get discounted anti-virus and internet security for your home tech!
How scam-savvy are you? Put your ability to spot a scam to the test with this quick quiz from Take Five to Stop Fraud.
Need to brush up on your skills? Visit the Scam Academy .
Report all genuine suspicions of fraud, bribery or corruption against the NHS to your Local Counter Fraud Specialist or to Crimestoppers on free-phone 0800 028 40 60 or online at www.cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud .
Report fraud and cyber crime against an individual or business to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you are a business owner, charity, school or public sector organisation and you would like more information about how SAFE can help your organisation identify and prevent fraud please get in touch for an informal, no obligation chat.

Violence and Aggression is down…

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:30:17 GMT

SAFE have worked with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust who have recorded fewer than 205 incidents of violence and aggression compared to last year which is a 26.6% reduction.

In addition, there were fewer than 85 incidents resulting in staff injury, this is a 31.7% reduction on the data recorded for last year.

The SAFE team have a uniquely blended skill mix consisting of security management and clinical staff working jointly to deliver healthcare security services, support staff and the organisation, improve patient care and patient outcomes whilst maintaining a safe environment.

The team provide an in-depth analysis of incident data to identify trends, themes, and risks at a patient, local and organisation level. The team use this information to facilitate case conferences to combat challenging and complex situations and also identify training and support needs for individuals and teams.

Get in touch today to find out how SAFE can help to reduce the level of violence and aggression within your NHS Trust or private healthcare service.

The results are in...

Fri, 13 May 2022 09:45:12 GMT

The results of the SAFE annual staff survey of fraud awareness are in!

They show that staff across our client base have an excellent understanding of fraud risks and reporting routes.

Over 90% of staff had knowledge of their Anti-fraud Policy.
Over 98% of staff would report fraud through the routes known to them.
Up to 98.4% have knowledge of their obligations to report conflicts of interest.
Up to 95% are aware of fraud risks affecting their business.

The results demonstrate that counter fraud work delivered by SAFE has been effective in raising fraud awareness and reducing fraud risks to our clients.

Staff can recognise fraud and it's impact on their business. They know how to report it and are confident to doing so.

What's the picture like in your business?

Do your staff have knowledge of your Anti-fraud Policy?
Do they know how to identify and report fraud?
Is there anything stopping them from reporting fraud?
How would they rate their own knowledge of fraud risks that may affect your business?

The SAFE staff survey of fraud awareness answers all these questions and more, giving our clients the data they need to make informed decisions about fraud risk management.

Get in touch today to find out how SAFE can help to reduce fraud risks to your business by measuring fraud awareness amongst your workforce and delivering targeted fraud awareness campaigns.

Injunction Gained

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:45:04 GMT

Due to our evidential package and partnership liaison, the injunction has been backed with a Police 'power of arrest' should the offender breach the order.

The ASB offender was begging, urinating, defecating and using drugs in public commercial area. The offender has now been ordered not to frequent the area by a District Judge, such a fantastic result both for SAFE and its client.

We can keep your sites, towns and cities SAFE from anti-social behaviour. Get in contact to see how we can support you with your anti-social behaviour issues. Let's stamp it out together.

Fraud Prevention in a Cost of Living Crisis

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:19:52 GMT

Fraud prevention is always important but never more so than when we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis as we are now in 2022.

The rising cost of living is outpacing salaries and this is likely to lead to an increased risk of fraud by employees against their employers, sometimes known as insider fraud.

Most employees who commit fraud against their employers are not career criminals; so what triggers their fraudulent behaviour?

The Fraud Triangle model helps us to understand.

Let’s look at each of these points in a little more detail:

Pressure/Motivation – For fraud to occur the perpetrator (your employee) must have a motivation. This may be a financial problem, caused for example by debt, relationship breakdown, or an addiction. The cost of living crisis is likely to increase pressures on employees as household budgets are squeezed, this may motivate otherwise loyal staff to seek opportunities to commit fraud.

Opportunity – An employee motivated to commit fraud must then have the opportunity to do so. There is some evidence that crimes such as fraud are often committed to maintain social status so employees motivated to commit fraud will often look for opportunities where there is a low perceived risk of getting caught. Whilst the cost of living crisis may not directly affect the opportunities to commit fraud, it may increase the number of employees looking for weaknesses in internal controls and drive them to look for ever more inventive ways to commit fraud.

Rationalisation – An employee who is motivated to commit fraud and who has the opportunity to do so will then seek to rationalise their behaviour. Common examples include trivialising their actions, i.e. 'it’s only a few hundred pounds from a big company', or 'everyone else does it'. They may also feel undervalued or a sense of aggrieved entitlement, i.e. 'I give so much to this company and get nothing back'. The cost of living crisis may result in more employees rationalising their behaviour through their sense of being undervalued, particularly as many are enduring pay cuts in real terms.

Please get in touch to find out how SAFE can help your organisation break the Fraud Triangle through the development of:

Robust internal controls,
Fraud prevention training,
Proactive fraud detection exercises, and
Promotion of staff welfare and support programmes.

Don’t become a victim of Romance Fraud

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 14:19:56 GMT

Action Fraud has recently reported that the cost of romance fraud is almost £92 million.

Andy Knight, Head of Counter Fraud at SAFE, says that:

"Romance fraud involves a fraudster adopting a fake persona and striking up a friendship or romance with their victim in order to obtain money and/or gifts. This can happen either in person or via online dating websites when it's called catfishing."

The crime is a form of social engineering that often targets vulnerable individuals including the recently bereaved and those for whom another relationship has recently ended.

“We all share a lot of information about ourselves online via social media platforms. Fraudsters will use this to research potential victims, it is worth thinking about what you share within your posts or dating sites/apps” said Andy Knight.

We have put together a quick guide on romance fraud prevention to help you spot the signs of fraudsters, because it is better to be SAFE than sorry!

Behavioural red flags of fraud...

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 11:45:32 GMT

As an employer, fraud detection and prevention can often feel overwhelming.

What are the most common behavioural red flags of fraud?
How do I develop strategies to prevent fraud?

These questions can be particularly problematic for SME's that don't have dedicated counter fraud functions.

Fortunately, fraudsters display some common tell-tale signs that can help us; 85% of fraudsters display at least one of the red flag behaviours listed below and identifying them can help to target counter fraud resources effectively.

So how does this information help you if you're an employer?

For example, you may have a relatively junior employee who takes exotic annual holidays, drives an expensive new car, or wears expensive clothing or jewellery. It doesn't necessarily mean they are committing fraud against you but you may wish to look in more detail at any financial transactions they are involved in at work.

Identifying one or more of the red flags can also help you to prevent fraud occurring by intervening early. For example if you become aware that an employee has financial difficulties you may be able to provide support and/or restrict their opportunities to commit fraud.

A number of the identified red flags relate to job performance, including:

unusually close relationships with customers,
control issues/unwillingness to share duties .

A fraud perpetrator’s job performance will often suffer while they are committing fraud, this can include excessive absenteeism, poor performance, and lateness. Whilst these signs alone don't necessarily mean they are committing fraud against your company, if you are already aware of losses they may provide an indication of potential culprits.

If you would like more information about how SAFE can help your business identify and prevent fraud please get in touch for an informal, no obligation chat.

International Fraud Awareness Week (14-20 Nov)

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:46:03 GMT

SAFE are proud to be official supporters of International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2021.

This years event takes place 14-20 November and its aim is to minimise the impact of fraud by promoting fraud awareness and education.

Fraud is estimated to cost the NHS £1.29bn a year and we all have a part to play in preventing it.

I n the wider UK economy, £754m was stolen through fraud in the first six months of 2021, that's an increase of 30% on the same period in 2020 and amounts to £4m a day on average. The more aware we all are about fraud, the less likely we are to fall victim to it.

Here are some fraud fighting tips to help you:

Share fraud prevention advice using these resources; ' Spot NHS fraud ', ' CEO Impersonation Fraud ', and sign up for free scam alerts from WHICH? to get alerted to the latest scams and receive practical advice to keep you one step ahead of fraudsters.
Improve your cyber security with 6 simple actions and bag free anti-virus protection for your home tech!
How scam-savvy are you? Put your ability to spot a scam to the test with this quick quiz from Take Five to Stop Fraud.
Need to brush up on your skills? Visit the Scam Academy .
Report all genuine suspicions of fraud, bribery or corruption against the NHS to your Local Counter Fraud Specialist or to Crimestoppers on free-phone 0800 028 40 60 or online at www.cfa.nhs.uk/reportfraud .
Report fraud and cyber crime against an individual or business to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Mandate Fraud Prevention

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 13:28:14 GMT

Bank Mandate fraud occurs when someone requests you to change the bank transfer mandate, by purporting to represent an organisation you make regular payments to, for example business supplier, membership or subscription.

Fraudsters will look to identify suppliers of services your organisation use on a regular basis. They may obtain these details from contract award notices published online, or information published on your company website.

SAFE have produced a mandate fraud prevention quick guide to help organisation identify and implement preventative actions.

Bank mandate fraud is seen by organised crime groups (OCG’s) as a low risk, high reward enterprise and whilst specific techniques are constantly evolving bank mandate fraud can often be cyber enabled.

This means that in order to protect your organisation you need to look to your supply chain to ensure that your suppliers understand the risks; such as poor password security and phishing attacks leading to business email compromise and bank mandate fraud.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have produced useful guides on password security and dealing with targeted phishing emails . SAFE have developed a mandate fraud prevention webinar which brings the subject to life with real-life examples and experiences from our experienced counter fraud professionals.

SAFE launch counter fraud webinar series

Thu, 06 May 2021 18:51:38 GMT

As part of our drive to continuously improve the way we engage with key stakeholders within our client organisations, the Counter Fraud Team at SAFE has developed a series of webinars to exp lore key aspects of the fight against fraud, bribery and corruption in the NHS.

Beginning with an introduction to countering fraud in the NHS, the webinars will be of interest and benefit to those with no knowledge of the subject areas and those looking to reinforce their existing knowledge.

Andy Knight, our Client Engagement Lead (Fraud), said "We're really excited to be able to share our counter fraud knowledge and expertise in a new convenient and efficient way".

Events will generally be open to everyone in the SAFE client community. However, places will be limited so that we are able to make the sessions interactive and manage Q&A sessions.

Anyone wishing to attend any of the webinars should contact Charlotte Park or Andy Knight.

'The Evolution of Healthcare Security in a Modern World' A webinar from the National Association for Healthcare Security

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Mon, 03 May 2021 13:15:12 GMT

The National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) has organised a webinar which takes place on 26 May 2021 and will be held via MS Teams, hosted by Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust.

10:00 - 10:05 - Welcome by NAHS Chair

10:05 - 1020 - NAHS News and Update

NAHS Becoming a limited company – the benefits
NAHS Board / Executive Committee – Update
Charitable Incorporated Organisation – Update
Members Offers
New Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard – Update
Additional NAHS Functions

10:20 - 11:20 - Protect Duty Consultation – make the public safer at publicly accessible locations.

(CT Legislation relevant to NHS and Healthcare) and Q&A from Alan Cain, NAHS Vice Chair.

11:20 - 11:35 - Being There (sponsor)

‘Being There’ teaches essential skills when dealing with loved-ones or colleagues who need emotional support. The course is based on the highly-sought after in-person workshops that Dr. Smyth has been giving internationally to organisations, institutions and individuals.

11:35 - 11:50 - Comfort Break

11:50 - 12:10 - Update from Michelle Russell - Security Industry Authority (SIA)

12:10 - 12:55 - Training Opportunities for health care security staff

12:25 - 12:55 - Changes to Health and Social Care - Integrated Care Services

12:55 - 13:10 - Review and Close from NAHS Chair

If you are interested in attending this event, please head over to our EventBrite site to book your ticket.

Downloadable version of the programme.

Security Risk - Face Masks

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:41:19 GMT

We recently became aware of damage caused to a chair by the nylon string attached to the standard NHS disposable face mask. As well as raising concerns around damage to property, this also has safety implications for our more vulnerable patients, with opportunities for self-harm, ligature risk and harm to others.

You may see clips on social media about how the masks can be mis-used, and these can be viewed by anyone.

Don't let romance fraud ruin your Valentines Day

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 08:03:21 GMT

Sky News recently reported that romance fraud cost UK victims over £63m in 2020 according to figures obtained from Action Fraud.

Andy Knight, Head of Counter Fraud at SAFE, says that:

The crime is a form of social engineering that often targets vulnerable individuals including the recently bereaved and those for whom another relationship has recently ended.

"We all share a lot of information about ourselves online nowadays and fraudsters use this information to research potential victims so it's worth thinking about what your posting on social media platforms or dating sites and apps" said Andy Knight.

As Valentines Day approaches we've put together a romance fraud prevention quick guide to help those of you looking for love to spot the romance fraudsters because it's better to be SAFE than sorry!

SAFE win a place on NHS SBS framework

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:20:23 GMT

Following the submission of a successful bid, SAFE are proud to be included in the NHS SBS internal and external audit services, counter fraud, and financial assurance services framework offering very competitive pricing from leading players in the market.

The framework provides a fully OJEU compliant route to market for the provision of audit services covering a wide range of specialisms including counter fraud and ancillary services.

It offers NHS and Public Sector organisations within the UK, the ability to directly award a contract to SAFE; providing a timely and compliant route to market to meet your requirements.

NHS SBS state that the framework offers potential saving opportunities of 10-15% but in our first bid under the framework SAFE were able to offer one contracting authority a saving of over £84,000; representing a 26% reduction in spend over their incumbent provider .

SAFE has the expertise, experience and capacity to provide a high quality counter fraud service to your organisation and the NHS SBS framework makes it easier to engage our services and start realising the benefits.

International Fraud Awareness Week

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 06:01:33 GMT

SAFE are proud to support International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) #fraudweek and the global effort to minimise the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education.

Fraud costs the UK economy in excess of £100bn a year and in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has provided new opportunities for criminals to defraud you and your business.

As part of #fraudweek we've put together a toolkit of anti-fraud resources for businesses and individuals.

Organisations

We've created a series of fraud prevention quick guides to help protect your business from common types of fraud.

COVID-19 Fraud Prevention Advice for Businesses
CEO Fraud Prevention Quick Guide
Brexit Fraud Risks - EU Settlement Scheme
DMARC - Protect your business from email fraud with this free tool from the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA).

Individuals

Can you outsmart the fraudsters? Put your ability to spot a scam to the test with this quick quiz from Take Five to Stop Fraud.
T his short video from Take Five to Stop Fraud offers advice on protecting your money and personal information from fraud.
Keep yourself and your family secure online during coronavirus by following the governments Cyber Aware advice .
Quad9 - is a free security solution from the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) that uses DNS to protect your system against the most common cyber threats, it's also available as an app (search Quad9 in your app store).

Contact us to find out how our team of experienced Accredited Counter Fraud Specialists can help protect your organisation from financial crime.

Brexit Fraud Risks - EU Settlement Scheme

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 14:29:57 GMT

In the face of the global Coronavirus pandemic, Brexit has fallen out of the news, but as we get closer to 31st December 2020 it’s important to remember that Brexit brings some big changes, including fraud risks. If your business employs EU nationals, you will be affected by Brexit and failure to act could have a big impact on your business.

Free movement of people will end from 1st January 2021 and the UK will introduce a points-based immigration system. EU citizens already living in the UK by 31st December 2020 are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and will have until 30 June 2021 to make an application. However, after that date if they do not have pre-settled or settled status they will be unable to live and work lawfully in the UK.

In a recent CIPD Podcast: The true cost of post-Brexit recruitment ; Ian Robinson of Fragomen LLP, a global firm of immigration law experts, stated that:

“ In my opinion there is a duty of care owed by employers to their employee’s, often times simply because if a person doesn’t apply [for settled or pre-settled status] their life could be turned upside down, and the more you can do to educate them, to direct them, and make sure that they know what is needed the better ”.

Do you know how many EU nationals you employ?

How many of those are in ‘business critical’ roles?

Do you know whether they have pre-settled or settled status?

These are important questions, because failing to identify employees who are EU nationals and support them in obtaining pre-settled or settled status may result in your employees having no right to work in the UK after 30 June 2021. Employees may also face prosecution under immigration legislation and the Fraud Act 2006 (if they fail to disclose their immigration status or lie about it).

Employers may face civil penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker and a business closure notice which effectively shuts a business operation for 48 hours. Employers may also face prosecution under immigration legislation which could result in up to 5 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Clearly these sanctions would also attract a significant amount of associated reputational damage.

SAFE is currently working with our clients to assess risks associated with Brexit to help our clients effectively manage those risks. Get in touch to find out how we could help your business to identify, assess and manage Brexit related fraud risks as well as those associated with other areas of your business including procurement and finance/accounts payable.

National Association for Healthcare Security Virtual Conference 2020

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 10:07:15 GMT

“The Future Direction of Security in Healthcare” The online conference for the National Association for Healthcare Security

National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) has organised a Virtual Conference on the 12th November 2020.

The AGM and morning session of the conference will be held via MS Teams, hosted by Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust.

Programme for the event:

Morning Session

Annual General Meeting (members only)

10:00 - 10:30

Conference Starts
11:00 - 11:15 - Welcome by NAHS Chair

11:15 - 11:25 - Sponsor Slot (CriticalArc)

11:25 - 11:40 - Introduction & Message from the Security Industry Authority (SIA)

11:40 - 12:40 - Panel Discussion

Managing Risks in Security (The New Normal)

Panellists as follows:

12:40 - 13:20 - Lunch break

Afternoon Session

NAHS Conference hosted in collaboration with Professor Martin Gill via Zoom

13:20 - 14:00 - Welcome and Presentation by Professor Martin Gill

14:00 - 15:00 - Panel Discussion

Pandemic / major incidents and the implication for healthcare security

Panellists as follows:

15:00 - Conference wash-up of the day’s events by NAHS President and Chair

15:30 - Close.

If you are interested in attending this event, please head over to our EventBrite site to book your ticket.

Downloadable version of the programme.

Injunction Granted on an Anti-Social Behaviour Offender.

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 15:24:20 GMT

SAFE has had success at County Court on behalf of one of our Local Authority client’s. An anti-social behaviour offender who was involved with urinating, defecating, drug use and begging in public has had an injunction granted against them.

The Local community has see action being taken and the area becoming more appealing to the public and businesses. To prevent your local authority areas becoming anti-social behaviour hot-spots contact us to discuss your Civil Injunction requirements.

Test and Trace scam alert issued by councils

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 12:45:40 GMT

The Local Government Association says councils have received reports of fraudsters attempting to exploit the system through bogus phone calls, emails and text messages which ask for bank card details to cover the cost of the testing kit. The genuine NHS service is free.

People are being urged to be on their guard against criminals trying to con people out of money by pretending to be from the NHS Test and Trace Service, in a new coronavirus-related scam.

The warning comes during Scams Awareness Fortnight, and amid new research which shows that more than one in three people in the UK have been targeted in scams since lockdown began.

The Test and Trace Service aims to reduce the spread of coronavirus by quickly testing people with symptoms and either phoning, texting or emailing whoever they have had close contact with to tell them to self-isolate for 14 days.

In the scam, a message or phone call claiming to be from the NHS Test and Trace Service is sent or made to householders informing them that they have been in contact with somebody who has tested positive for coronavirus and that they need to self-isolate and take a test.

The scammers refuse to disclose who the householder has been in contact with but ask them to confirm their address so a testing kit can be sent to them. Bank card details are then requested – purportedly to cover the cost of the testing kit.

The LGA is urging people to be vigilant to protect themselves from the scam. Residents are being reminded that the genuine NHS Test and Trace Service will never:

Ask for bank account details, passwords or PIN numbers
Ask for a payment or to buy a product
Ask you to download any software
Ask you to call a premium rate number to speak to the NHS (for example, those starting 09 or 087)
Disclose any of your personal or medical information to your contacts.
Anyone asked these types of questions should report the incident to Action Fraud.

To read this article from The Local Government Association in full visit their website .

Football fans are warned of cyber threats when they swap their tickets for TV subscriptions.

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 14:24:52 GMT

With millions of football fans expected to log into subscriptions to stream behind-closed-door games, advice has been issued on how to secure accounts.

The National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ, warns online hackers could break into football fans’ accounts to carry out ‘phishing’ scams

Top Cyber Aware tips include how to put a strong password in place and completing device updates that keep accounts safe from hackers.

Football fans have been warned of cyber threats when they swap their tickets for TV subscriptions – and been advised how to watch behind-closed-doors games as safely as possible.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has shone a light on online criminals who could hack into accounts by guessing passwords that are obvious or have been compromised in the past. The organisation previously revealed that almost 700,000 accounts have been compromised through hackers guessing a device’s passwords as ‘liverpool’, ‘chelsea’ or ‘arsenal’.

As well as illegally watching the game the victim has paid for, the hackers could make unauthorised purchases on the platform or look to find personal information that could be used for further scams – including targeting them with scam emails or phone calls.

With the season now back, fans can secure their viewing experience by:

Refreshing accounts: It’s a great time for fans to consider resetting their password. We’re increasingly seeing hackers use credentials stolen in past security incidents to hijack streaming accounts using the same compromised details. If you’re using the same password for your sports streaming accounts that you’ve used multiple times in the past – it’s time for a reset.
Setting a strong password: We recommend using a password that’s separate to your email password and made up of three random words. You can then save this strong password in the browser so you don’t have to worry about remembering it.
Updating streaming apps: Cyber criminals exploit weaknesses in apps to access your sensitive personal data. Providers regularly issue patches to these exploits in updates – you’re vulnerable without them so we urge every fan to make sure their streaming apps are updated. To make it simple going forward, we recommend turning on automatic updates.

For more information please visit the National Cyber Security Centres website for the full article .

NHS Test and Trace: How to tell if it’s real or a scam

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:58:36 GMT

NHS Test and Trace phishing emails are being sent by scammers, the fake email refers to the service as ‘track and trace’. The email advises the recipient that they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. They are instructed to click on a link in order to find out who that person is and are warned that if they fail to do so within 24 hours, legal action may be taken and their benefits suspended. The email address from which this message is being sent is ‘alert@nhstrackandtrace233-gov.com ’ .

Remember, contact tracers will never ask you to:

Dial a premium rate number to speak to them (for example, those starting 09 or 087).
Make any form of payment.
Give any details about your bank account.
Give your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts.
Disclose passwords or pins.
Create any passwords or pins.
Purchase a product.
Download any software to your device.
Hand over control of your PC,, smartphone or tablet.
Access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS.

For more information read this article from Which.co.uk

Invoice fraud and CEO spoofing

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 12:45:41 GMT

If you stop and think about it, you already know how to beat invoice fraud and CEO spoofing.

It’s not hard for fraudsters to find out business invoice details (even down to payment dates) and then pose as regular suppliers.

You know if the ‘supplier’ contacting you might not be your supplier. You know you should always validate requests to change payment details. You know if something in the request doesn’t quite add up.

If you receive an email from your CEO or another senior member of staff asking you to make an urgent payment outside of normal procedures, don’t automatically follow their lead.

You know if the ‘CEO’ emailing you might not genuinely be your CEO. You know if something in their tone or request doesn’t add up, or if something they’re asking doesn’t feel right. You know you should always validate requests to change payment details.

It’s just that when you’re busy, or under pressure, it’s easy to forget this.

By following some simple steps you can beat the fraudsters:

Don’t assume an email or phone call is authentic. Are they who they say they are? Is it really one of your suppliers? Is it really your CEO? Take time to think. Take time to check.
Are they supplying the right information? It’s easy for a criminal to pose as your supplier and ask you to change bank account details, or pose as your CEO, emailing to ask you to make an urgent one-off payment. It’s also easy for you to call your real supplier, or your CEO and check!
Listen to your instincts – you know if something doesn’t feel right. If it feels wrong then it probably is. If you suspect a request isn’t from your genuine supplier, always question it. Always validate requests to change payment details or make one-off payments. Take time to call them back on a number you’ve used before.
Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision. Remember to stop and take time to carefully consider your actions.

Finalists for the UK OSPAs Awards Announced

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:33:02 GMT

The UK OSPAs (Outstanding Security Performance Awards) announced the finalists of the 2020 awards at the International Security Expo which took place on Tuesday 3rd December 2019.

Now in their fourth year, the UK OSPAs serve to recognise the contributions that companies, initiatives, teams and individuals make to the security industry and wider community. The awards recognise extraordinary performance in a variety of different categories.

Security and Fraud Experts – SAFE are pleased to announce that our Security Management Specialist Peter Paskin is one of the finalists under the category of ‘Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director’.

Finalists will now be put forward to the next stage of the competition and winners will be announced at the OSPAs awards dinner taking place in February 2020.

New Accreditation Awarded

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 13:54:28 GMT

We are pleased to announce that Shawn Whitley has added a new skill to their portfolio and is now an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist. This new accreditation will prove to be an added benefit to the team and our clients.

To discuss how our fraud team could help your organisation reduce levels of fraud and save money, please get in touch.

SAFE’s Accredited Security Management Specialist Scoops National Award

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 14:07:02 GMT

Roger Ringham, Head of Security and Fraud Experts – SAFE, is proud to announce that on the 14 November Pete Paskin received the National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) Award for Healthcare Security Manager of the Year 2019/20 at its Annual Conference.

Each year NAHS hosts an annual conference for its 700 UK members and presents awards for:

Healthcare Security Manager;
Security Innovation;
Violence Reduction Initiative;
Healthcare Security Executive Director or Non-Exec. Director;
Healthcare Security Team;
Healthcare Security Officer.

Ian Todd, Chief Executive for the Security Industry Authority, who presented at the Awards Ceremony, stated that the quality of some nominations surpassed those at the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) which he attended earlier this year.

Awards are given following nominations from those who work with the nominees. In Pete’s case nominations were received from a number of clinicians and other healthcare professionals who he supports at SAFE clients, however the latter nomination stood out to the adjudication panel which summed up the quality of service he delivers:

In the three years that Peter has led the Security Management agenda and has transformed the approach and effectiveness of support to our services, colleagues and managers which is consistently recognised across the organisation. Peter combines an effective broad-brush strategic approach with the commitment and attention to detail to resolve the numerous daily security management challenges we face across our services. The NHS is fortunate to have people like Pete Paskin, and his abilities, attitude and commitment should deservedly be recognised;

Pete chaperoned me after being assaulted by a relative of a patient to court. Peter is my hero and he does not have a cape. I will never be able to show my appreciation but I do hope that this nomination will in some way let this very humble, proactive individual know what a fantastic role he has played in my case’

In acceptance Pete commented:

“I am pleased to receive this award and hear the comments of those who I have worked to support but I would also like to mention my colleagues in the SAFE team.

New Accreditation’s…

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 14:18:34 GMT

We are pleased to announce that Roger Ringham and Peter Paskin have added a new skill to their portfolio and are now Accredited Counter Fraud Specialists. This new accreditation will prove to be an added benefit to the team and our clients.

To discuss how our fraud team could help your organisation reduce levels of fraud and save money, please get in touch.

The benefits and importance of Document Verification

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:30:08 GMT

This is a case study from the King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of London's largest and busiest teaching hospitals. The Trust employs staff from 120 countries with a range of diverse backgrounds. On average there are 150 new starters each month, all of whom need to be consistently checked in line with the NHS Employers employment check standards.

Before using scanning equipment and software, the Trust relied on recruitment administrators to visually inspect identity documents such as passports and driving licenses. This process depended on individual experience to detect anything suspicious. The trust deemed this to be very risky, particularly given the sophistication by which fraudulent documents are now made.

As the Home Office continues to tighten up on immigration and organisations face increasingly large fines for employing an illegal worker, in 2015 the Trust decided to tighten up its ID-checking procedures and retrospectively check 6,000 staff that were recruited prior to the implementation of the ID verification technology in 2009.

Before carrying out the checks, the trust sought legal advice and developed a comprehensive communications strategy including a factsheet with FAQs. It was crucial to get this right from the outset to ensure staff fully understood the rationale for the checks, the benefits for the organisation, the process that would follow and when their checks would take place.

The main scanner uses a variety of light sources to carry out checks to verify the documents produced are genuine and highlight any potential discrepancies. The Trust also used a portable system at remote sites. The new scanner meant that administrators no longer had the burden of checking documents. As part of the package staff were trained to deal with situations where false documents are suspected and subsequent local investigations need to take place. If a problem is detected the system automatically stores a copy of the document, allowing the originals to be handed back to the individual. The administrator can then get in touch with the provider and request a full report on the document which will outline any discrepancies found in the document or refer the matter to the Counter Fraud Team. There are a number of systems available on the market, but generally each cost between £5,000 and £10,000 for a three year contract.

After 12 months 92% of staff where checked successfully and a significant decline was seen in the number of individuals presenting false documents. During the 12 month period, 500 staff voluntarily resigned before having their documents checked. The trust did however identify two members of staff working under false documents, one of whom had been working for the Trust since 1997. Financial recovery of over £105,000 was achieved as a result of the project which led to a return on investment of over 400%. The use of the scanner and software has transformed the Trusts ID checking element of the recruitment process and in 2016 won the Government Counter Fraud Award.

The staff at Security and Fraud Experts knows how important Document Verification is, which is why we run interactive training sessions to assists HR/recruitment teams and recruiting managers in identifying and reporting fraudulent identity documents, protecting your organisation from the risk of civil penalties or criminal charges for employing illegal workers. For more information on this training course can be viewed under the Services section of our website.

Staff Prevent £20,000 attempted fraud

charlotte.park@nhs.net (Charlotte Park) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:13:11 GMT

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.

The security risks from tailgating…

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:49:13 GMT

Tailgating is a common security breach and is often innocently aided by an employee politely holding a door open for someone. But what if the individual that you politely hold the door open for is intent on causing harm to people or property?

As demonstrated in the video clip featuring Andy Wells, one of our Client Engagement Leads, it can be very easy for someone with improper intent to gain access to secure areas of your building.

Once there, they could steal cash and cards from employees bags, they could steal equipment, confidential paper files or electronic data, or they could physically harm employee’s and service users.

We all have a responsibility for security in our workplaces, that means not passively accepting tailgating. Top tips:

When entering an access controlled area it only take a few extra seconds to ensure that the door closes without unauthorised personnel following you in.
If someone does follow you in and you don’t know who they are, or they don’t have an appropriate identity badge, politely challenge them as demonstrated by Andy Wells in the video clip.

Don’t be fobbed off, if you challenge them and they don’t provide a satisfactory response, ask them to wait outside the access controlled area until you can establish their identity.

Find out more about the security management and training services that we provide via our Services section