BankSafeOnline (UK Payments)
UK Payments is the UK trade association for payments and for those institutions that deliver payment services to customers. On their website you’ll find information about payment fraud and helpful tips and advice on ways to prevent it.
British Banking Assocation (BBA)
The BBA is the leading association for the UK banking and financial services sector, speaking for 223 banking members from 60 countries on the full range of UK or international banking issues.
Callcredit
Callcredit is a credit reference agency. It combines a comprehensive understanding of the financial services industry’s needs with state-of-the-art technology to develop information solutions.
Cheatline
The Insurance Fraud Bureau runs a free, confidential Cheatline for members of the public to call with information about insurance fraud. To report insurance fraud, call Cheatline on 0800 328 2550 or report online on Cheatline’s website.
Childnet International
Childnet International’s mission is to work in partnership with others around the world to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children.
CIFAS (UK’s Fraud Prevention Service)
CIFAS is the world’s first not-for-profit fraud prevention data sharing scheme. Following specification by the Home Office under the Serious Crime Act 2007, public authorities are able to join CIFAS and share information reciprocally to prevent fraud. It has 270 members across banking, credit cards, asset finance, retail credit, mail order, insurance, savings and investments, telecommunications, factoring, and share dealing. Members share information about identified
Claims Management Regulator
Claims management companies offer consumers assistance in making compensation claims. This includes companies offering ‘No win, no fee’ services. As part of the Ministry of Justice, the Claims Management Regulator is the regulatory body for this industry. The regulator works with the police to tackle fraud – such as staged and contrived motor accidents involving false personal injury claims.
Counselling Directory
This online network gives information on counselling as well as listing counsellors in areas across the UK with their contact details, fees and the areas they cover. This service is free, confidential and easy to use.
Crimestoppers
Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps to find criminals and solve crimes across the UK. Anyone can call their phone number, 0800 555 111, anonymously, 24-hours a day, to pass on information about crime. Alternatively, you can send information anonymously via their website, using their Giving Information Form. Callers don’t have to provide any personal information and calls can’t be traced. Many criminals exploit people’s fear to avoid arrest and Crimestoppers is a simple and secure way of bringing criminals to justice, without anybody knowing who the information came from. Rewards are also available and are paid without compromising a caller’s anonymity.
Equifax
Equifax is a credit reference agency. It provides up-to-date information about people applying for credit to organisations such as banks, building societies, mortgage companies, retailers and mobile phone providers to help them to decide whether or not to give credit. Equifax also makes credit information available to you online.
Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 65 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.
Financial Fraud Action UK
Raises awareness about all types of financial fraud in the UK. The Financial Fraud Action UK website includes information about different types of payment fraud and useful downloads.
Financial Conduct Authority
The FCA is an independent body that regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
Get Safe Online
Get Safe Online provides a source of unbiased, user-friendly advice about online safety to UK consumers and micro-businesses, making sure internet users are aware of key risks and have the right information to help protect themselves. Since its inception, it has operated as a joint initiative between HM Government, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), and private and public sponsors from the worlds of retail, technology, finance and communications.
Identity Theft
Your identity and personal information are valuable. Criminals can find out your personal details and use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licenses in your name. This website can help you protect yourself, advises what to do if it happens to you and suggests where to get further help. It has been produced in collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat the threat of identity theft.
The Online Dating Association (ODA)
The ODA was set up in 2013 to ensure high standards of behaviour by dating service providers serving UK users. All ODA members must abide by a Code of Practice which includes requirements around protection of the user. The ODA also provides advice to consumers on how to stay safe when using online dating sites.
Out of Your Hands
Teaching the responsible way to own, operate and safeguard a mobile phone. The Out of Your Hands campaign brings together The Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum (TUFF) and Financial Fraud Action UK in a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when the telecommunications and payments industries work together.
ProtectMyID from Experian
ProtectMyID is an identity protection service that monitors your Experian credit report and alerts you to potential fraudulent activity via email or SMS. If you are a victim of identity fraud, a dedicated caseworker will work with you to help you resolve any problems.
RSCPP
RSCPP is a Therapist Directory listing over 2000 Therapists nationwide all of which are accredited/chartered or registered by a professional body.
Think Jessica
Think Jessica works to raise awareness about scams that use the postal service, also known as ‘mass marketing fraud’. The Think Jessica website has information about how postal scams work, including‘Jessica’s story’.
UK – Safer Internet Centre
Internet Centre, where you can find e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.
Victim Support
The charity Victim Support gives free and confidential help to victims of crime, witnesses, their family, friends, and anyone affected across England and Wales. Everyone who reports fraud to Action Fraud is given the option to receive support from Victim Support.
Which? Consumer rights
An expert guide to your consumer rights with free tools and advice for what to do if things go wrong.
Law Enforcement and professional counter fraud specialists
Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU)
The DCPCU is a special police unit fully sponsored by the banking industry through UK Payments, and has an ongoing brief to help stamp out organised card and cheque fraud across the UK. It is a unique body that consists of officers from the Metropolitan and City of London police forces who work alongside banking industry fraud investigators.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
A major objective for the DWP is to clamp down on benefit theft. If you know of anyone stealing benefits you can contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Calls are free and confidential. Lines are open 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
The HMRC is responsible for ensuring the correct taxes are paid at the right time, whether this relates to payment of taxes received by the department or entitlement to benefits paid.
Insurance Fraud Bureau
The Insurance Fraud Bureau was set up by the industry to disrupt and coordinate action against people committing organised insurance crime in the UK.
Insurance Fraud Investigators Group (IFIG)
A non-profit members organisation dedicated to the detection and prevention of insurance fraud. Counter insurance fraud professionals can apply to IFIG for membership.
Local Authority Investigation Officers Group (LAIOG)
The LAIOG deals with all types of fraud perpetrated against local authorities, and is used by investigation officers when looking into allegations of fraud.
National Crime Agency
The NCA is a new crime-fighting agency with national and international reach and the mandate and powers to work in partnership with other law enforcement organisations to bring the full weight of the law to bear in cutting serious and organised crime.
Police Central E-Crime Unit
This specialist unit was set up to create a national centre of excellence to combat e-crime. It aims to improve the police response to victims of e-crime by developing the capability of the police service across the UK, co-ordinating the law enforcement approach to all types of e-crime, and by providing a national investigative capability for the most serious e-crime incidents.
Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
The SFO is an independent government department that investigates and prosecutes serious or complex fraud. It’s part of the UK criminal justice system.
SAFERjobs
SAFERjobs (Safe Advice for Employment and Recruitment) is a non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation created in 2010 to raise awareness and combat criminal activities that may be attempted on those seeking a job, or through the services provided by the recruitment industry.
Trading Standards Institute
The Trading Standards Institute is a one-stop shop for useful consumer protection information in the UK, for instance, product recall information, and advice leaflets you can read online, print or save to read later.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk