Recently, I had a telephone conversation with a man who identified himself as being an agent of the UK's 'National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.' However, this person refused to give me his name or identify exacly what his position is, or his qualifications for occupying it. I had made contact with the 'National Fraud Intelligence Bureau,' at the suggestion of an employee of 'Action Fraud.' However, these tax-payer-funded organizations require further explanation.
Thus, in recent years, Britain has become submerged by fraud, to the extent that the police (outside of Scotland) no longer accept reports of fraud from the public. For the last several years, this task has been outsourced to a 'service' known as 'Action Fraud.' In my experience, the persons who answer the phones for this 'service,' have little idea what is the legal status of 'Action Fraud.' Indeed, the 'service's' own Website does not make this clear, even though it contains a page entitled 'What is Action Fraud?'
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What is Action Fraud? | Action Fraud
What is Action Fraud?
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We provide a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime. People are scammed, ripped off or conned everyday and we want this to stop.
The service is run by the City of London Police working alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) who are responsible for assessment of the reports and to ensure that your fraud reports reach the right place. The City of London Police is the national policing lead for economic crime.
Report fraud and cyber crime crime
You can report fraud or cyber crime using our online reporting service any time of the day or night; the service enables you to both report a fraud and find help and support. We also provide help and advice over the phone through the Action Fraud contact centre. You can talk to our fraud and cybercrime specialists by calling 0300 123 2040.
When you report to us you will receive a police crime reference number. Reports taken are passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Action Fraud does not investigate the cases and cannot advise you on the progress of a case.
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'Action Fraud' lists the various common types of Fraud that UK citizens might fall victim to, including 'Business Opportunity Fraud.' Business opportunity fraud | Action Fraud
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'Business opportunity fraud involves an offer to become financially independent, or to generate extra income, by setting up your own business.'
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To date, it has been impossible for me to discover who exactly compiled 'Action Fraud's' feeble attempt to describe 'Business Opportunity' fraud. I assume that the page was, in fact, compiled by an agent, or agents, of the UK's 'National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.' Indeed, it is quite possible that the unidentified person whom I spoke to, was the author, or one of the authors, of the page.
Who are the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau? | Action Fraud
Laughably, there has been absolutely no mention of 'Multi-Level Marketing/Direct Selling' on 'Action Fraud's' Website. Furthermore, as far as I'm aware, there has never been a single, well-informed criminal investigation, let alone a successful criminal prosecution, of an 'MLM/Business Opportunity' fraud in the UK.
All this begs the not unreasonable question:
Why on Earth have agents of the UK's 'National Fraud Intelligence Bureau' via 'Action Fraud' been warning the UK public about a form of largely-foreign-controlled organized crime that, by their own chronic and catastrophic failure to identify it accurately, has become effectively authorized and, therefore, widespread in the UK?
David Brear (copyright 2024)
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous.
DeletePerhaps we should explain, for the benefit of those Blog readers who didn't study Latin, that 'Quis custodiet ipsos custodes,' means:
Who guards the guardians?
We had family heavily into Amway. It's obvious no one can make money from door-step selling these days. These happy-clappy pyramid selling scams are everywhere. They all fit what Action Fraud calls 'business opportunity fraud.' Why are they allowed?
ReplyDeleteThese organized criminal activities have been allowed, because a lot of greedy little pigs (including: legislators, regulators, attorneys, accountants, academics, celebrities, etc.) have had their snouts in the almost bottomless trough of loot which the bosses of rackets like 'Amway' have set before them.
DeleteAlso, the truth about these criminal rackets has become unthinkable to many people. The truth being that what has become habitually referred to as, the 'MLM Direct Selling industry,' has been nothing more than a classic example of the notorious, reality-controlling, totalitarian propaganda tactic known as the 'Big Lie.' That is to say, the spreading of a falsehood which is so colossal and outrageous that the average person cannot even begin to conceive that anyone would have the audacity to invent it.
Totally agree, imo regulators are governed by whoever is funding them, they are not independent and most lawyers, celebs will do anything for the right price!!
DeleteMy experience of civil regulators is that they are motivated to do as little as possible regarding large scale financial frauds hidden behind legally-registered companies, because they, and their political masters, don't want to risk damaging confidence in the overall economic system.
DeleteIt's all very similar to the bodies which are supposed to regulate horse racing and the betting industry. If they were to uncover extensive cheating/rigging in horse racing, then the public might lose all confidence, and stop betting on it.