Cardiff University
The number of consumer scams and frauds targeting government support programmes due to the pandemic is underreported, a Cardiff University academic says.
Commissioned by the Australian Institute of Criminology, part of the Australian Government, the report co-authored by Professor Michael Levi concludes future pandemics and economic crises must include provisions for better monitoring and control of fraud.
Professor Levi, based at Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences, said: “Our report identified some novel crime types and methodologies that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media and online activities have played a huge part in these. Outside of frauds on the government loan and social security schemes – which are clearly related to the pandemic, it is not yet clear how many COVID-19 scams have happened as additional crimes, or if fraudsters have mainly rapidly adapted their tactics and ‘storylines’ to target victims.