Counter Fraud

Fraud and Corruption

Fraud is one of the many risks that Basildon Borough Council faces however, the deliberate nature of fraud can make it difficult to detect and deter. 

In administrating its responsibilities, the Council is determined to combat fraud, whether it is attempted on or from within the Council. The Counter Fraud Team is responsible for the investigation of potential fraud and irregularities for Basildon Council. 

Reporting a Potential Fraud

If you suspect or discover an irregularity perpetrated against the Council, you should immediately notify the Counter Fraud Team (click on either the Report Fraud or Whistleblowing button below).

What is Fraud?

On the 15th January 2007 the Fraud Act 2006 came into force, which clearly sets out the offences relating to Fraud. Under the Fraud Act 2006 the three main offences are:

1. Fraud by false representation - where an individual dishonestly makes a representation which they know to be false, the intention of the representation to make a gain or cause a loss to another or expose another to the risk of loss.

2. Fraud by failing to disclose information - Where an individual acts dishonestly and fails to disclose information to another person when they have a legal duty to disclose it or where the information is of a kind that they are trusted to disclose it or they would be reasonably expected to disclose it, The intent of failure to disclose is to make a gain or cause a loss to another or expose another to the risk of loss.

3. Fraud by abuse of position - where an individual who has been given a position in which they are expected to safeguard another person's financial interests, dishonestly and secretly abuses that position of trust without the other persons knowledge.

Fraud Prevention Measures

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is an exercise that matches electronic data within and between public and private sector bodies to prevent and detect fraud (for further detals click on NFI button below).