Annette Barker

The latest data from KPMG’s Fraud Barometer report reveals a single case of alleged fraud, valued at more than £100,000, in 2020. In comparison, Scottish fraud cases in 2019 were valued at more than £15.6 million.

Scotland’s only high-profile fraud case involved a Crown Office worker who was in charge of evidence at the Procurator Fiscal’s office. The 34-year-old was jailed for three years and nine months after it emerged she had stolen nearly £92,000 and drugs worth more than £147,720 between 2011 and 2019.

The latest fraud findings follow the launch of Police Scotland’s ‘Take Five To Stop Fraud’ campaign, warning Scots that they’re seeing a significant rise in fraud, driven in-part by Covid-19, as fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated methods to target vulnerable individuals and companies.

Annette Barker, head of Forensic at KPMG in Scotland, said: “Six months ago we reported no high-value cases of fraud going through Scotland’s court system. At the time we said the country could witness a tsunami of cases. It’s deeply concerning to see that court delays and closures have effectively shut down the criminal justice system as it attempts to deal with a suspected increase in fraud, driven by people who’ve taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Naturally, the pandemic has created a profound degree of uncertainty and challenge, so some cases may not have been reported and there could be delays in aspects of information being shared with the public. However, it goes without saying that 2021 will be an incredibly challenging year for the Scottish courts as they try to wrestle with a major backlog in cases. Regardless of the lack of cases coming to courts it is important for individuals and organisations to remain vigilant in their fight against fraud.”