Regulator refreshes guidance as it reveals 600 cases related to fraud in the last year
The Charity Commission has unveiled a refreshed suite of guidance to help trustees protect their charities from fraud and cyber crime.
This comes as the regulator reveals it opened 603 cases relating to fraud and a further 99 cases relating to cyber crime issues in the last year. 聽
Launching in Charity Fraud Awareness Week, the charity regulator has published bespoke guidance on how trustees can protect their charity from cyber crime and a separate shorter guide on fraud. These guides, which replace the regulator바카라 사이트檚 previous guidance, are more concise and easier to use.聽聽
The fraud guide explains what to do if fraud or attempted fraud is discovered at a charity and provides tips on how to reduce the risk of fraud taking place. It explains the importance of having robust internal financial controls and signposts to the Commission바카라 사이트檚 more detailed guide about this.聽聽
Cyber fraud is a key area of concern for many organisations that handle money and personal data. Through its casework, the regulator identified the most common type of cyber enabled fraud experienced by charities is phishing attempts.聽
The Commission바카라 사이트檚 cyber crime guidance seeks to help charities protect themselves from this ongoing threat. It sets out the importance of establishing an internal culture of fraud and cyber crime awareness.聽聽
The guidance has been developed with the support of the National Cyber Security Centre and their Small Charity Guide. It links to several free online training modules designed for charities of all sizes.聽
Both guides highlight the importance of reporting all fraud attempts, including those that failed, to Action Fraud. Fraud is underreported, with many hesitant to report incidents. 聽Reporting enables trustees to get the support they need and means there is a more accurate picture of how fraud is affecting the sector.聽
Mazeda Alam, Head of Guidance & Practice at the Charity Commission, said:聽聽
Protecting your charity from fraud and cyber crime can understandably seem daunting, but there are many small, inexpensive steps charities can take to reduce the risk of any potential internal or external fraudster being successful.
Introducing a simple measure such as having dual authorisation for all financial transactions can help avoid these issues arising 바카라 사이트� which are often opportunistic. 聽
It is every trustee바카라 사이트檚 responsibility to ensure they바카라 사이트檝e done all they reasonably can to protect their charity from harm 바카라 사이트� reading our guidance is the best place to start.聽
Notes to editors:聽
-
The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.聽
-
The 603 cases represent all cases opened between November 2023 and October 2024. Over the same period, the Commission received 264 serious incident reports relating to fraud. 聽
-
A can be found on 바카라 사이트. For example, the Commission would expect a charity to report any loss of funds as a result of a scam; if a treasurer produced false invoices or if it uncovered a bogus fundraising scheme being promoted using the charity바카라 사이트檚 name. The regulator would not expect a charity to report every cyber fraud attempt blocked by the charity바카라 사이트檚 computer security systems unless unusual in nature.聽聽
-
runs from 25th 바카라 사이트� 29th November and is led by the Fraud Advisory Panel and the Charity Commission to improve fraud awareness and signpost events and resources available to the sector.聽
-
NCSC바카라 사이트檚 website includes resources on .
Press office
Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk
Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787