Introduction to Fraud Investigation

This course will give you key skills and understanding to start a fraud investigation. It includes how the criminal law operates, how fraud is committed, the key essential points to prove in an investigation and how to structure a fraud investigation.

Day 1

  • Background to legislation; statute, common and case law (judicial precedent); offence terminology; interpretation of expressions; and ‘points to prove’ summary
  • Role of the Crown Prosecution Service and the two tests
  • Review of key offences relating to fraud -Theft Act, Criminal Attempts Act, Criminal Law Act and Bribery Act, definition of dishonesty, false accounting, mens rea, burden and standard of proof
  • Ethics and standards

 

Day 2

  • ‘What is an offence of fraud’: identification of key factors
  • Determining the investigation pathway: matching the criminal activity to the right offence
  • Intelligence-led investigation; investigative intelligence; National Intelligence Model (NIM) and working in partnership

 

Day 3

  • Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
  • The investigation rules and procedural legislation: what you can and cannot do as an investigator!
  • Human Rights Act, Criminal Procedures Investigations Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, application of reasonable and proportionate approaches
  • Safety and security of information: freedom of information (FoI), public interest disclosure
  • Equality and investigations

 

Day 4

  • Fraud Investigation Model - the intelligence-led Investigation Model (Intelligence Cycle); and the referral process
  • Collection plans -building effective plans to identify key information and evidence
  • Introduction to case management
  • Mapping for investigation

 

Day 5

  • Data protection and fairness considerations
  • Evaluating data, information, and criminal intelligence – the 3x5x2 system
  • Investigative risk assessment
  • Reporting and case conferences


Assessment

  • 2 Multiple choice question tests - completed online
  • An assignment where you explore and identify how intelligence supports fraud investigations