The UK’s Serious Organized Crime Agency has revealed that a month-long anti-fraud campaign resulted in 290 arrests and the seizure or ‘detention’ of over £6m ($7.4m) in property. .
In Operation Henhouse, the National Crime Agency (NCA) worked with police across the country, including officers from the Regional Organized Crime Unit (ROCU).
Cases highlighted by the agency include:
- Fraudulent selling of nonexistent vehicles on eBay. Victims were tricked into paying a deposit to see the vehicle and directed to a fake address. Six of him were arrested at Rotherham, Doncaster and Hampshire and £225,000 in cash and property seized.
- Over 250 smartphones were seized at a Stockport address, containing details of over 2500 bank accounts suspected of being used to launder millions of people over the past 12 months. Two men arrested, accounts closed
- West Midlands police have identified more than 100 suspected money mules and issued a stop order.
- Two men have been arrested in north London on suspicion of opening bank accounts to launder money. 1 billed
- An investment fraud scheme in which an individual was contacted to purchase an unplanned apartment, but the project was never completed and the victim lost £8m ($9.9m). 5 people arrested
- An international PPE fraud scheme profiting from shortages during the pandemic. three people arrested
Read more about UK fraud: Think tank warns of ‘silent stealing’ scam.
London Police Chief Nick Adams, who heads Britain’s anti-fraud campaign, said cooperation was key to the success of the operation.
“Through activities like Operation Henhouse and our continued collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and the private sector, we can tackle organized crime activity and protect the public from the scourge of fraud,” he added. .
“Based on the success of Operation Henhouse, we hope to continue our momentum in stopping fraud over the next 12 months.”
In practice, however, the UK is struggling to contain the surge in increasingly cyber-enabled fraud. Dating back to 2021, think tank RUSI argued that a new government-led approach was needed to tackle current national security challenges that threaten social and economic stability and foster organized crime and terrorism. .
It called for a “system-wide” response, including a clearer role for private sector companies, more resources and capabilities built into the police force, and clearer mandates for the GCHQ.
