As the first-ever Global Fraud Summit begins today, international ministers are set to agree new action to weed out fraudsters.
In a series of meetings at Lancaster House with senior ministers and representatives from the G7, Five Eyes, Singapore and South Korea, Home Secretary James Cleverley spoke about the threat posed by organized crime groups and how global law enforcement agencies should respond to them. We plan to discuss how we can deal with this issue.
Ministers will consider how closer collaboration with the private sector can be used to combat crime and compensate victims of crime.
Upcoming INTERPOL threat assessments are expected to show a worrying increase in fraudulent activity around the world, making it clear that law enforcement needs to step up their response.
Senior leaders from some of the world's largest companies will also be in attendance to explore further ways to collaborate with the private sector.
Home Secretary James Cleverley said:
This summit delivers on another promise we made to the British people in our Fraud Strategy and underlines Britain's position as a world leader.
Scammers do not care about borders and destroy the citizens of all our countries. It is only by coming together and fighting head-on that we can end this scourge, and that is exactly what we plan to do.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:
Fraud ruins lives. Scammers and thieves are a threat to hardworking families across the country.
The steps we have taken have already reduced fraud by 13% in England and Wales. However, the majority of fraud originates from overseas, and many are associated with international criminal groups.
That's why we're hosting the first-ever global fraud summit. Lead the international response. And to help involve the global community in this global fight.
Fraud is a global problem, with around 70% of all crimes in the UK linked to overseas criminals, with £3bn lost to overseas accounts last year. Reversing this trend will be impossible without a united international community.
According to Interpol's latest report, scams are often perpetrated by organized crime groups, including human traffickers, who put people to work in fraud centers targeting potential fraud victims around the world.
The main objective of the summit is to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies such as the National Crime Agency, FBI, Interpol, Europol and the National Police Agency. By sharing more intelligence, expertise, and resources, we can turn the tide against fraudsters.
Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:
Changes in technology and the rapid increase in the size and volume of organized crime are driving the creation of a variety of new ways to defraud innocent people, businesses, and even governments. Urgent action is required.
It is important to eliminate safe spaces for financial fraudsters to operate. We need to close existing gaps and ensure that information sharing across sectors and borders is the norm rather than the exception. This summit is timely and needed.
Participating countries are not starting from scratch.
In 2022, UK law enforcement, working with international partners such as the FBI and Europol, shut down an online service known as iSpoof. This website of his was used to make over 10 million of his fraudulent calls and its administrator received her over 13 years in prison.
In December 2023, the UK, US and Canada also imposed joint sanctions against human rights abusers who forced trafficked people to work on fraudulent farms in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
National Crime Agency Commissioner Graham Biggar said:
More than 70% of fraud cases have an international element, clearly requiring an efficient and effective joint response with partners around the world.
The Global Fraud Summit is an important step forward, bringing together colleagues from the public and private sectors to address this persistent and pervasive threat.
Reducing the harm caused by fraud is a top priority for the National Crime Agency, and events like this help to have a large-scale impact.
Peter O'Doherty, Interim Commissioner of London Police, said:
Fraud is a global threat that requires a global response from senior leaders around the world, including law enforcement and industry partners, who must work together to effectively address the growing threat to all citizens. there is.
As the UK's leading national fraud force, we work alongside international law enforcement agencies to track down those who seek to defraud the public. Scammers don't recognize borders, and neither should we. This summit is an important opportunity to further build partnerships abroad.
Industry collaboration to prevent fraud will also be a key focus, with executives from some of the world's largest companies expected to attend. This provides a unique opportunity for international parliamentarians to come together with the private sector.
This summit encourages increased collaboration between government and industry to combat fraud.
The UK is leading the way in working with the private sector, as evidenced by the world's first Online Fraud Charter, which the UK agreed with 12 leading technology companies in November 2023. This includes measures to verify sellers in peer-to-peer marketplaces. Promptly remove deceptive advertisements and ensure that people using online dating services only interact with people who have verified their identity.
Partner countries agreeing to similar charters will significantly thwart fraudsters who rely on new technology to commit fraud.
The UK would also increase the likelihood of creating a mechanism to repatriate funds lost overseas due to fraud.
Antony Walker, deputy CEO of techUK, said:
The Global Fraud Summit provides technology companies with a platform to build on existing efforts and enable better and more consistent collaboration between the private sector, government, and law enforcement in the fight against fraud and online fraud.
As the nature of online fraud continues to evolve, tech companies remain committed to taking measures against online fraud and adapting their approaches to effectively combat this criminal activity and protect users.
UK Finance Chief Executive David Postings said:
Fraud is a global problem and we know it has a devastating impact on people. The UK and its financial services sector are at the forefront of efforts to tackle this criminal activity.
We are delighted to be joining the UK Government's international summit and will continue to work hard to stop fraud in the first place.
All participating countries are expected to agree to a communiqué pledging more coordinated action to combat fraud.
The second day of the summit will consist exclusively of working-level meetings between the private sector, civil society, and senior civil servants from around the world.
The overseas ministers who will be attending are as follows.
- Stephen Jones, Australian Deputy Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services
- Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Canada
- Sabrina Agresti-Lubache, French Secretary of State for Citizenship
- Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary Secretary to the German Federal Minister for the Interior and Communities
- Matteo Piantedosi, Italian Minister of the Interior
- Yoshinobu Kusunobu, Deputy Commissioner of National Police Agency
- Mr Casey Costello, New Zealand Minister for Seniors and Tariffs
- Josephine Teo, Singapore Minister of Communications and Information
- Lee Sang-min, South Korean Minister of Home Affairs and Security
- Arun G. Rao, Assistant Attorney General of the United States
- Kelly Ann Barisi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, U.S. Department of Homeland Security