This week is International Fraud Awareness Week – an opportunity to talk about how we can all play our part in the fight against fraud.
Every year, fraud causes millions of pounds worth of damage to organisations and individuals across the UK, including local councils.
The exact cost to taxpayers is unknown, but fraud against the public sector can be committed by people both inside and outside an organisation, and can take many forms including:
- Cybercrime.
- False benefit claims and grant applications.
- Invoicing councils for good or services that were never provided.
- Bogus insurance claims, including trips and slips.
- False expenses claims.
- False mileage claims.
- Offering or accepting bribes.
- Counterfeit Blue Badges.
- Theft or misuse of council money, equipment or property.
Always report fraud if you see it
Like all local authorities, Wrexham Council has policies and procedures in place to help prevent and tackle fraud.
Part of this involves asking the public, councillors and employees to report potential fraud. The easiest way to do this is via the council website.
Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, said: “Any type of fraud is completely unacceptable – whether it’s false expenses claims, false benefits claims, bogus insurance claims or anything else.
“Fraud can have a serious impact on public finances and services, and it’s important that we do everything we can to tackle the issue.
“Some fraud is relatively easy to detect, but some fraudsters are very clever with their tactics and cybercrime is a particularly challenging area, so we have to remain vigilant.
“When someone commits fraud against Wrexham Council, that money should be spent on delivering local services.”
