Insider Fraud and Employment Agencies

This subject applies to all companies/businesses/organisation operating in the UK and I raise it wearing my fraud prevention hat, for further information about protecting yourself against fraud please see www.northwestfraudforum.co.uk or your own regional fraud forum

On the subject of Insider Fraud there is always a possibility when recruiting either permanent or temporary staff through an agency that the correct procedure/checks have not been carried out by the agency.

The recruitment industry has its fair share of cowboy agencies who to cut costs and do not even carry out even the most basic checks. Where this happens how can you be sure the person who turns up on you premises is even eligible to work in the UK, or is the person the agency said they have sent?

My wife’s company had a recent case in Liverpool where a large national agency were supplying temps for a major call centre. It transpired that five of the people that had been put forward to the client and who were accepted on face value, were part of a criminal ring who were expropriating customer bank details etc and selling them off. It subsequently transpired that these people had not even had their eligibility to work in the UK checked.

Preventing insider fraud starts by ensuring you know who is working on your premises and I would urge all companies/organisations that use agencies to do a thorough check on the agency, make a visit to their premises and demand to see their processes. These checks must include:

1. Identity check either a) Passport; or b) Drivers licence AND birth Certificate
2. NI Number
3. Proof of address with recent utility bill/bank statement
4. References
5. Eligibility to work in the UK where in necessary must be checked

Victims of Fraud

SMEs who have been victims of e-crime should contact Action Fraud

(www.actionfraud.org.uk). Action Fraud is at the heart of National Fraud Authority’s

strategy to make the UK a more hostile environment for fraud and encourages

small businesses and individuals who have been defrauded to come forward, call

Action Fraud and report the crime 0300 123 2040

TEAM http://www.jobsatteam.com/ is the largest network of independent recruiters in the UK and offers a unique range of services: Over 350 membership locations across the UK providing a Total Recruitment Service to clients and candidates both locally and nationally across a wide range of disciplines

The views/opinions expressed on this website are entirely my own