Scottish fraud increases five-fold
A study by KPMG has found that fraud in Scotland increased at an even faster rate than it did for the rest of the UK.
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The firm found that the total value of fraud perpetrated in Scotland rose from £4.71m in 2001 to £21.48m, an increase of 356%. Across the whole of the UK the value of fraud climbed by 193%.
But one case alone accounted for more than half of all frauds in the region. Ian Erskine, a 48-year-old former director at Hirbenian FC, was jailed for four years after committing fraud totalling £11m.
At the same time as fraud levels continue to rise, UK insurer, Royal & Sun Alliance, has begun a campaign to raise awareness about fraud committed in the office.
RSA has outlined a series of risk management techniques to reduce the occurrences of fraud including encouraging employees to take two weeks’ consecutive leave, undertaking random and surprise audits, becoming aware of employees living beyond their means and promoting a whistleblowing philosophy.