The Charity Commission for England and Wales, together with members of the Charity Sector Counter Fraud Group, have launched a new website www.charitiesagainstfraud.org.uk to help charities tackle fraud.
The website is designed to provide guidance for trustees, staff and volunteers who want more information on tackling fraud in their charity, and includes guidance, tips and case studies, together with links to other organisations tackling charity fraud.
The new website was launched to mark the start of Charity Fraud Awareness Week at the end of October. The campaign reminds charities how to limit their fraud risk and aims to ensure that trustees and charity staff can recognise the warning signs of fraud and offers advice on an effective and proportionate response.
David Kirk, Chairman of the Fraud Advisory Panel, commented:
‘Fraud presents a serious threat to every organisation but unfortunately charities can be particularly vulnerable due to the high number of financial transactions they undertake. Fraud can manifest itself in many different forms and is constantly evolving - which is why we are urging everyone working with charities and not for profit organisations to join together and stop fraud against charities. Charity staff and trustees must stay alert to the risks and understand how to manage them.’
Fraud is a persistent and pressing issue in the modern world, and individuals are not the only ones susceptible. Businesses and charitable organisations can also fall prey to fraud, both internally and externally, with consequences stretching further than to just expense.