High-rolling directors at risk from fraudsters
Criminals targeting bank accounts of big earners
Finance directors and other higher earning company directors are facing a
growing threat from hi-tech fraudsters in Scotland, the police have warned.
Detective Chief Inspector Derek Robertson said criminals were infiltrating
call centres to empty personal bank accounts and were targeting the accounts of
high-rolling business people and blue-chip companies by hacking into computer
systems.
Scotland’s largest police force, Strathclyde, is currently leading ten major
investigations into hi-tech fraud involving international companies, Robertson
said.
‘We are dealing with inquiries from top telecommunications companies, top
financial companies and business people around the world. These people are
targeting blue-chip companies that wouldn’t immediately spot £500,000 moving
from one account to another,’ he said.
In 2004, 17% of medium-to-large UK businesses suffered financial fraud
costing £121m, The Scotsman reported.