Tackling Fraudsters in the Heart of the City | Smartnumbers Consortium 2024

In further coverage from the Smartnumbers Consortium 2024, we’re getting the perspectives of other organisations in the fight against fraud.

This time we spoke to Pauline Smith, from City of London Police and former Director of Action Fraud, who discussed how City of London Police tackle fraud, particularly in vulnerable sectors like contact centres.

Smith highlights how combining Smartnumbers’ technology with law enforcement efforts could better protect businesses and the public. Read on to find out more.

A great example of collaboration

Smith is well placed to talk about this topic. Action Fraud is the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre for the UK. In the video above, she expressed her interest in exploring how Smartnumbers could partner with the City of London Police to make life difficult for fraudsters.

Smartnumbers’ advanced data capabilities would be used to strengthen the police force’s efforts in fraud prevention and investigation. City of London police have a long history of dealing with fraud, given their location in one of the biggest financial centres in the world. Smith emphasised that the integration of Smartnumbers’ technology could help industrialise the fight against fraud, making it more systematic and difficult for criminals to operate.

A big part of this is data analysis. She pointed out that both the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Smartnumbers work with data, albeit in different ways. The NFIB, under the City of London Police, uses data to identify patterns and trends in fraud, which can be crucial for anticipating and preventing future crimes. Smith believes that Smartnumbers’ expertise in data analytics could complement the NFIB’s work, particularly in identifying emerging trends and vulnerabilities in industries like call centres.

Why call centres are vulnerable to fraud

Another interesting insight from this interview is the specific vulnerabilities faced by call centres when it comes to fraud. Given that call centres are one of the largest employers in the UK, they naturally attract fraudsters looking to exploit any weaknesses. Fraudsters typically target areas where they perceive vulnerabilities, whether it’s among individuals, businesses, or processes. Smith suggested that the collaboration could focus on fortifying these vulnerable points, given Smartnumbers expertise in this area.

Smith also discussed the role of GDPR and data sharing in combating fraud. GDPR needs to be used in the right way of course, particularly when it comes to data sharing agreements and it’s vital to establish robust data-sharing practices that allow for effective collaboration between different entities.

We also hear about the importance of shared principles in any collaboration. She mentioned that one of the key principles should be putting the public or victims at the heart of all initiatives. By focusing on the needs and protection of victims, any collaboration becomes more meaningful and effective. Smith noted that this victim-centric approach has been a successful part of her work in the past and should continue to be a guiding principle in future collaborations.

Be sure to check out more of our coverage from the event on our website.