These are just a few words you might hear in relation to fraud. Fraud can be committed against individuals or businesses.
There are many words used to describe fraud: Scam, con, swindle, extortion, sham, double-cross, hoax, cheat, ploy, ruse, hoodwink, confidence trick.
These are just a few words you might hear in relation to fraud. Fraud can be committed against individuals or businesses.
The purpose of these pages is to provide you with information, help and assistance
The PSNI Economic Crime Unit (ECU) has recently been formed in order to help protect the community from the effects of fraud and other financial crime. To that end we have Detectives trained specifically in fraud investigation; and Financial Investigators, who follow the money, restrain and confiscate criminal property.
We are located at Strandtown PSNI and have a number of hubs across the Province. As we are seen as the ‘experts on fraud’ within the PSNI we provide advice and guidance across the Service. ECU work closely with other Law Enforcement and partner agencies throughout the UK and Ireland in the fight against fraud.
We believe that it is vital that the fraud prevention message gets out to as wide an audience as possible. To get the message out we:
- produce and distribute leaflets on specific fraud/scam threats;
- issue press releases;
- attend public events such as the Balmoral Show;
- we are available for interview by the media when requested;
- we issue ‘Fraud Alerts’, via e-mail to business, public sector and other contacts;
- we have recently acquired the means to send ‘Text Alerts’ and will send out the fraud alerts via text to those who sign up to this service;
- we are engaging with the PSNI’s Social Media and more alerts and advice will distributed via Facebook and Twitter in the future.
We are always looking to identify new methods of getting the fraud prevention method out, however; It is a never ending struggle. We are available and keen to assist business, or other community groups by: disseminating information; and giving presentations, or advice.