New guidance on fraud and cyber-crime to protect charities, Self-Assessment scams warning and reforms to employment support announced
Today’s blog post begins with guidance for charities to raise awareness and guidance around cyber-crime, warnings of Self-Assessment scams and a White Paper releases details of reforms to employment support.
Protecting charities: New guidance on fraud and cyber crime
With last week being Charity Fraud Awareness Week, the Charity Commission has unveiled updated guidance to help trustees protect their charities from fraud and cyber crime. This follows the regulator revealing that it opened 603 cases related to fraud and 99 cases involving cyber crime in the past year.
Simplified and focused guidance
The newly launched resources include:
- Explains what trustees should do if fraud or attempted fraud occurs.
- Provides practical tips to mitigate fraud risks, such as implementing robust internal financial controls.
- Focuses on common threats, such as phishing, which the Commission has identified as the most frequent cyber-enabled fraud targeting charities.
- Emphasises creating an internal culture of fraud and cyber crime awareness.
Both guides replace older, more complex versions and were developed in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Mazeda Alam, Head of Guidance & Practice at the Charity Commission, encouraged trustees to take proactive measures: “Protecting your charity from fraud and cyber crime can understandably seem daunting, but there are many small, inexpensive steps charities can take to reduce the risk of any potential internal or external fraudster being successful.”
He continued by saying that introducing even simple measures, such as requiring dual authorisation for financial transactions, can significantly reduce risks.
Importance of reporting
The guidance also highlights the need to report all fraud attempts—successful or not—to Action Fraud. This ensures accurate data on how fraud affects the charity sector and provides trustees with necessary support.
The updated resources aim to equip charities of all sizes with the tools to enhance their security. If you are a trustee, you will likely find it helpful to review the guidance and adopt preventative measures to safeguard your charity’s assets and reputation.
If you would like any help with charity financial matters, please contact us and we would be happy to help you.
Be wary of Self Assessment scams
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a reminder to be careful about scam attempts that target people filing Self Assessment tax returns. In the last year, nearly 150,000 scam attempts were referred to HMRC, a 16.7% increase on last year. With the 31 January 2025 filing deadline approaching, fraudsters are likely to step up their activities.
HMRC reports that around half of all scam reports in the last year were fake tax rebate claims. Fraudsters are usually aiming to get hold of personal information and banking details.
If you receive an email, text or phone call from someone claiming to be from HMRC that asks you for personal information or offers you a tax rebate, there is a useful checklist here that can help you identify a scam.
It is helpful to know that HMRC will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest. Neither will they ask for personal or financial information over text message.
HMRC also will not contact you by email, text, or phone to announce a refund or ask you to request one.
If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be from HMRC and feel unsure whether it is a scam, or you would like to check whether you are due a tax refund, call us at any time and we would be happy to help you.
Get Britain Working White Paper: Reforms to employment support announced
The government has unveiled some significant reforms to employment support, underpinned by a £240 million investment. The measures aim to address deep-rooted issues of unemployment, economic inactivity, and barriers to work, as detailed in the newly published Get Britain Working White Paper.
Figures quoted in the government’s announcement made for sobering reading. 1.5 million are unemployed, 9 million are economically inactive, and a record 2.8 million are out of work due to long-term illness. Young people, in particular, are disproportionately affected, with one in eight not in education, employment, or training.
The UK is apparently the only major economy that has seen its employment rate fall over the last five years. The government has attributed the reason for the decline to an increase in long-term ill health, and an employment support system that is outdated.
Therefore, the White Paper is highlighting the need for a fundamentally different approach to employment, health, and skills support to revitalise Britain’s workforce.
What are the key reforms being proposed?
- Revamping jobcentres: These will be transformed into a new “national jobs and careers service”. This overhaul will focus on developing people’s skills and careers rather than simply monitoring benefits.
- Tackling economic inactivity from ill health: Health-related issues, which are considered to be a major driver of inactivity, will be addressed through employing extra NHS staff in 20 areas that have high inactivity so as to cut waiting list times. Mental health support will also be expanded.
- A new “Youth Guarantee”: Every 18-to-21-year-old will have access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities. The current Apprenticeship Levy will be replaced by a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy. Eight youth “trailblazer” areas are to be set up, including in Liverpool, Tees Valley and the East Midlands to help young people in those areas find education, training or work.
- Supporting people with disabilities and health conditions: An independent review will be launched into the role of UK employers in promoting health and inclusive workplaces. It will look at what more can be done to enable employers to increase the recruitment and retention of disabled people and those with a health condition. It will also explore early intervention for sickness absence and what may help increase returns to work.
- Empowering local communities: Local leaders, including mayors and councils, in areas of England that are not getting a trailblazer will receive up to £15 million to develop their own plans.
How will the reforms affect you?
Based on the changes being proposed, we may begin to see new measures introduced into employer’s obligations towards long-term sickness.
Over the longer term, if these initiatives result in more younger people receiving more training, then this may increase the number of skilled people available for hire. This could alleviate the difficulty some businesses are finding in locating suitably qualified staff.
To review the White Paper, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-britain-working-white-paper