Organised crime gangs are exploiting offers of financial help in the coronavirus stimulus package and there are fears that £1.5 billion has been lost to universal credit fraud alone.
Lynne Owens, the head of the National Crime Agency (NCA), warned that criminals had targeted relief schemes with “instances of fraud against DWP [the Department for Work and Pensions] and HMRC”.
Law-enforcement officials were aware that organised crime gangs would try to exploit the pandemic by accessing packages such as furlough schemes and business relief.
Ms Owens said that criminals were “in it to make money” and that she recognised the “risk that can be created by a new stimulus package”.
The NCA was using its digital and covert capabilities to pass on intelligence and crack