The Serious Fraud Office is consulting some of the biggest legal and accountancy firms in the world to ask them to help identify frauds in the wake of the credit crunch. At the same time the SFO is reaching out to City workers to see if they have an inside track when it comes to early fraud detection. To hear the Director's views click on this link to the podcast.
The SFO has written to Senior and Managing Partners of the leading accountancy and legal firms in London and is posting a special form on its web site www.sfo.gov.uk/cases/cityfraud/ so that those employed in the City's financial services industry can blow the whistle on any bad practices. This online referral form is targeting individual workers, ex-employees, shareholders and anyone with information about suspected 'City' fraud. Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.
In looking for frauds arising from the credit crunch, the SFO is working closely with colleagues in the law enforcement community both in the UK and abroad, with Governments and regulators.
The SFO website contains detailed information about the criteria under which the SFO can accept a case SFO CASES. But typically the SFO does not investigate or prosecute cases involving less than £1 million.
Those who wish to report a criminal offence of fraud which does not appear to meet the criteria of the SFO should contact their local police or regional fraud squad. Information about the Metropolitan Police Fraud Squad can be obtained from www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/index.htm
Serious Fraud Office
Elm House,
10-16 Elm Street,
London WC1X 0BJ,
United Kingdom
Press Office tel: 020 7239 7001/7045/7000/7132
Main switchboard tel: 020 7239 7272
Mobile: 0781 807 6688
Email: press.office@sfo.gov.uk
