Fighting Public Sector Fraud: The Growth of Professionalism in Counter-Fraud Investigators
Organizations need to be continually creative in the fight against fraud, and the professionalism of counter-fraud work over the past few years has contributed towards the significant achievements that have been made in this area. This article will discuss various themes surrounding the evolution of a counter-fraud profession, including an assessment of the characteristics of a “typical” counter-fraud specialist, some of the problems that they face in their workplace and the response made by creating an independent association which aims to promote their status and of counter-fraud investigations generally.
The problem of ‘white noise’: Examining current prevention approaches to online fraud
Purpose - The purpose of this article is to examine the current prevention messages that exist surrounding the prevention of online fraud. In particular, it focuses on the amount and level of detail that is promoted for each type of potential fraudulent approach. Design/methodology/approach - Multiple data sources are used to establish the main premise of this paper. This includes the publication entitled Little Black Book of Scams, qualitative data from victims who have experienced online fraud, and materials collected through a police investigation into online fraud. Findings - Results of this analysis indicate that current prevention messages are characterised by a large degree of detail about the various ways that (online) fraud can be perpetrated. This is argued to be ineffective, based on the experiences of victims who were unable to apply their previous knowledge about fraud to their experiences. Additionally, the categorisation of fraudulent approaches is highlighted as unimportant to offenders, who are focused on obtaining money by whatever means (or approach) possible. Practical implications - This article provides the impetus to evaluate the effectiveness of current prevention messages. It points to a simplification of existing prevention messages to focus more importantly on the transfer of money and the protection of personal information. Originality/value - This article argues that current prevention messages are characterised by too much “white noise”, in that they focus on an overwhelming amount of detail. This is argued to obscure what should be a straightforward message which could have a greater impact than current messages.
Themes in contemporary policing
Recent years have seen a significant level of concern and confusion about the role of the police, in public opinion as well as in official documents; and our current policing system faces great and increasing pressure for change. It was in this context that an Independent Committee of Inquiry into the Role and Responsibilities of the Police was established by the Police Foundation and PSI in 1993: its purpose: to examine the pressures on the police and make recommendations for change. Themes in Contemporary Policing, which was originally commissioned for consideration by the Committee, pulls together key contributions to the debate written by the leading academics in the field. Covering such diverse aspects as crime trends, the changing social context of crime and policing, public opinion and the police, public and private policing, this book will be of major interest to all those concerned about the future of policing.