Five countries support UK measures against global fraud
The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have backed a package of British measures to strengthen the international fight against fraud and online scams. The decision was approved at a ministerial meeting of the five countries in Sydney attended by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and her counterparts from the Five Eyes countries.
Information sharing and closing channels
According to MercoPress, the new measures provide for faster intelligence sharing to identify fraudulent operations spanning several countries, including scam centres. Participants also plan to coordinate the actions of governments, law enforcement agencies and businesses to close accounts, services and communication channels that criminals use to find victims and move illicit proceeds.
Recommendations to strengthen efforts against online fraud and financial crime will be developed in partnership with telecommunications operators, technology companies and financial institutions. Attention will focus on vulnerabilities in systems and services that criminal groups may use to obtain and move funds.
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Support for the INTERPOL task force
The Five Eyes countries also supported increased international assistance for the UK-backed INTERPOL Global Fraud Task Force. Law enforcement agencies, governments and business representatives are involved in its work. The group is expected to help analyse organised fraud networks, develop intelligence, establish links between groups in different countries and facilitate international operations to stop their activities.
Shabana Mahmood said that fraud causes significant losses to victims and that criminal groups operate across state borders. According to her, closer international cooperation and engagement with industry should make it more difficult for criminals to profit and bring them to justice. Earlier this year, the UK government committed to allocate £250 million under a new fraud strategy to strengthen law enforcement capabilities, counter fraudulent schemes and support those affected.
