What is Cifas? | The Not-for-Profit Fraud Prevention Organisation

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href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/about-cifas/what-is-cifas">What is Cifas?</a></li></ul><h1>What is Cifas?</h1><h2>Who we are</h2> <p>Cifas is a not-for-profit fraud prevention membership organisation. We are the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, managing the largest database of instances of fraudulent conduct in the country. <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/membership/cifas-members">Our members</a> are organisations from all sectors, sharing their data across those sectors to reduce instances of fraud and financial crime.</p> <p>Throughout the UK, our experts and services help protect <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/individuals">individuals</a> and <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/organisations">organisations</a> from the growing and increasingly sophisticated threat of fraud and financial crime. Since 1988, Cifas has helped its members and customers protect themselves from billions of pounds worth of fraud losses. </p> <p>With every organisation that becomes a <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/membership/cifas-members">Cifas member</a>, or with whom we <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/about-cifas/relationships-and-collaboration">collaborate</a>, we establish a tougher environment for those seeking to commit fraudulent conduct – both externally and within your organisation. Using the simple tools of communication and sharing information, we are able to shine a light on their activities for all our members and partners to see. </p> <p>For members of the public we offer increased security against identity fraud, as well as expert advice on how to protect your personal data in our increasingly tech-reliant world.</p> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/codeofethics">Read our Code of Ethics</a></p> <h2>What we do</h2> <h3>Cifas for individuals</h3> <p>As a member of the public, we can provide you with the information and tools you need to understand fraud and financial crime when it happens, and offer advice about what you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim. </p> <p>If you’ve been a victim of identity fraud, or feel your personal data is vulnerable due to a breach, we offer <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/identity-protection/protective-registration">Protective Registration</a>. Find out more about keeping your personal details safe on our <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/identity-protection">Identity Protection</a> page.</p> <p>We also hold information on individuals whose behaviour appears to be consistent with that of known fraudulent conduct. If you’ve been told Cifas holds information about you, you can make a Subject Access Request. Find out more about the information Cifas holds on individuals on the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/dsar">Subject Access Request</a> page.</p> <h3>Cifas for organisations</h3> <p>Since 1988, Cifas has collaborated with organisations from across the public and private sectors to create a non-competitive fraud prevention environment, focused on working with rather than against each other to defeat fraudsters. Our methods utilise a number of products and services including fraud risk databases and networking opportunities for our members and law enforcement partners.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZrtjO3xiCI" width="75%"></iframe></p> <p>Before providing a service, or employing a new staff member, Cifas members can check details against our databases for matches with individuals whose behaviour appears to be consistent with that of known fraudulent conduct. We also offer a range of training courses that provide the latest knowledge and skills in investigating and responding to fraud and financial crime.</p> <h1>Cifas Timeline</h1> <div id="timeline"> <h5>TODAY</h5> <div class="row"> <div id="t-l"> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2017.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2017</span><br/> The Home Office joined Cifas – the first government department to do so in its entirety. Cifas also welcomed its 400th member organisation. </p><br/> <p>Cifas achieved its Investors in People (IIP) Silver Accreditation.</p><br/> <p>Cifas Reports, as passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), now contribute to national crime statistics on fraud, collated by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). This helps raise the profile of fraud and financial crime, so that <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/insight/public-affairs-policy">government officials are better informed</a> of the nature and scale of economic crime when creating national counter-economic crime policies.</p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2015.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2015</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by Cifas members: £1,104,025,083</strong><br/> Our 'Fraud Investigations Database' (FIND) was relaunched and our new refreshed brand went public. </p><br/> <p>For the second year running, we prevented over £1 billion in fraud loss.</p><br/> <p>The Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce (JMLIT) was created and Cifas was invited to participate.</p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2013.png" class="top-left" style="margin-bottom: 55px;"/> <p> <span>2013</span><br/><strong> IFD members: 110<br/> NFD members: 232<br/> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £968,445,226</strong><br/> We had our 25th anniversary and Simon Dukes was appointed as the new Chief Executive </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>2011</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £550,993,336</strong><br/> Five public sector bodies became members of CIFAS: the Legal Services Commission, the Financial Services Authority, the Student Loans Company, the Big Lottery Fund and the (then) UK Border Agency. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2009.png" class="top-left" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"/> <p> <span>2009</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £857,322,275</strong><br/> CIFAS partnered with Teesside University to develop the CIFAS foundation degree in Fraud Management. </p><br/> <p> A new case type 'Confirmed Fraud Risk' was built into CIFAS. Royal Mail and their cancelled 'mail redirects' were the first Confirmed Risk Fraud case type with £9 million savings reported by members. </p><br/> <p> The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) launched. We have provided it with data from the National Fraud Database since inception and we continue to be one of its largest data providers. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>2007</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £987,829,077</strong><br/> <p>CIFAS was designated by the Home Office as a Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation (SAFO) under section 68 of the Serious Crime Act.</p> <p>The first Alternative Lenders joined CIFAS membership.</p> <p>CIFAS launched a new Bulk Protective Registration Service to help those companies who suffer data breaches.</p> </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>2005</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £681,545,210</strong><br/> In a joint initiative with law enforcement and the commercial sector, CIFAS began designing vehicle fraud. The system, linked to ANPR cameras, contained details of fraudulently obtained and stolen vehicles to aid their recovery. The vehicle fraud project closed in 2008 due to withdrawal of Kent connectivity, a lack of sponsorship within Kent Police and the withdrawal of a major insurance sponsor. </p><br/> <p> The <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/insight/events/organised-fraud-intelligencegroup">Organised Fraud and Intelligence Group (OFIG)</a> began in 2005. It is made up of members, law enforcement and government partners, and provides a route for intelligence and investigation professionals to share information about fraud threats, trends and enablers. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2003.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2003</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £486,969,948.</strong><br/> CIFAS launched the 'Fraud Investigations Database' (FIND) supported by LogicaCMG, the largest project in our then 15 year history. </p><br/> <p>Delivered on time and to budget, it set out to deliver £2.5 million per year in reduced operational costs to CIFAS members for an outlay of just over £1 million. It offered access to our data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.</p><br/> <p>CIFAS launched the first ever UK Identity Fraud Index in January. Developed from data supplied by 200 members, the index was designed to highlight the business sectors being targeted by fraudsters and organised crime. The index gained considerable media interest, with a feature appearing on Teletext!</p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2001.png" class="top-left" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"/> <p> <span>2001</span><br/> <strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £255,920,000.</strong><br/> The <a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.safps.org.za/">South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS)</a> was established with support from CIFAS. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1999.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>1999</span><br/> <strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £165,378,118</strong><br/> The first insurers joined CIFAS membership. Peter Hurst was appointed as Chief Executive: </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1997.png"/></div> <p> <span>1997</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £113,526,887.</strong><br/> A common fraud modus operandi was an individual walking into a retailer with false documents in order to try and walk out with expensive electronics on store credit. They would hope Saturday staff didn't scrutinise the documents too carefully. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1991.png"/></div> <p> <span>1991</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £15,820,000.</strong><br/> CIFAS became a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee with a <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/about-cifas/governance">Board</a> elected from the membership, the credit reference agencies and one representative from the police and National Consumer Council (NCC). Ken Cherrett (pictured) was approached to become Chairman. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1988.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>1988</span><br/> On 5 November, CIFAS, then known as the Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System, was launched. The eight-strong team all had other jobs. The seven founding members were all retail credit providers. From 1988 until 2003 members recorded their cases via the credit reference agencies (CRAs), by fax or post, then a CRA mainframe system, and finally by the Fraud Investigation Database (FIND). </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>1987</span><br/> At a seminar in 1987 for the credit industry, Detective Superintendent Graham Balchin urged industry leaders to cooperate to reduce fraud. He advised them to stop regarding it as a competitive issue that they relied solely on the police to resolve. </p> </div> </div> <div id="t-m"></div> <div id="t-r"> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2016</span><br/><strong> IFD members: 172<br/> NFD members: 285<br/> Fraud loss prevented by Cifas members: £1,028,777,942</strong><br/> Cifas was invited to participate in the Home Secretary’s initiative to collaborate to reduce fraud – the <a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-fraud-taskforce-management-board">Joint Fraud Taskforce</a> was founded in February. </p><br/> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2016.png" class="top-left"/> <p>Lady Barbara Judge, pictured, succeeded Ken Cherrett as Chairman, and a new Advisory Board including a Citizens’ Advocate was launched.</p><br/><br/> <p>Our first video ‘<a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq-0tjv4_BA">Data to Go</a>’ went viral – nearly 2 million views on Facebook and Twitter.</p><br/> <p>Another £1 billion in fraud loss was prevented.</p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2014</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £1,106,639,324</strong><br/> After consultation with the Home Office, the CIFAS Immigration Portal was created in order to allow retail banks to comply with the provisions of the <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/immigration-portal">Immigration Act 2014</a> </p><br/> <p>In the same year, UK deceased data was made available to our members.</p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2012</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £762,418,971</strong><br/> CIFAS succeeded in its first attempt in achieving Investors in People (IIP) standard accreditation. IIP specialises in transforming business performance through people. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2010</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £513,920,204</strong><br/> CIFAS welcomed its first public sector member: the Legal Services Commission. </p> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2010.png" class="top-padding"/> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2008</span><br/> <strong>IFD members: 55<br/> NFD members: 241<br/> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2008.png" class="top-right" style="margin-bottom: 25px;"/> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £848,304,084</strong><br/> Over the past 20 years CIFAS had prevented a total of £5 billion in fraud loss. CIFAS took part in the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) 'Proof of Concept' in 2008. The NFIB is still hosted by the City of London Police (CoLP). </p> </div> <div id="y2006" class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2006.png" class="top-left"/> <p> <span>2006</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £789,816,426</strong><br/> CIFAS supplied Essex Police with 15 prolific identity fraud addresses and case details, to help tackle serious and organised criminals and demonstrate the link between fraud and other serious crime types. A number of arrests were made and crimes uncovered ranged from drugs offences, to handling stolen goods, and attempted murder. </p><br/> <p> The Staff Fraud Database (now the Internal Fraud Database) was launched in consultation with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). </p><br/> <p> CIFAS and SOCA (now the National Crime Agency) carried out a data match between the National Fraud Database and Suspicious Activity Reports. 25% of Suspicious Activity Reports matched to a fraud record in the National Fraud Database, highlighting the strong connection between fraud and money laundering. </p><br/> <p> Also in 2006, we welcomed the appointment of a CIFAS Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at every police force in the UK. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2004</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £673,456,739</strong><br/> CIFAS launched the Fraud Check scheme. The scheme gave members a reciprocal method of checking the validity of bank details, contact details, documents, etc, in the course of a fraud investigation. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2002.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2002</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £360,214,061</strong><br/> Application fraud was the most common type of fraud – individuals were hiding adverse credit information or fabricating their employment and/or salary in applications for credit. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2000.png" class="top-left"/> <p> <span>2000</span><br/> <strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £210,000,000.</strong><br/> Identity fraud looked very different – there was very little current address fraud, it was predominantly previous address fraud (where the victim's genuine current address is given as the previous on the application).<br/><br/> The administration of GAIN, the Gone Away Information Network transferred to CIFAS. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1998.png"/></div> <p> <span>1998</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £136,585,310.</strong><br/> CIFAS had 160 members comprising banks, building societies, retailers, telecommunications and leasing and hire companies. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1993.png"/></div> <p> <span>1994</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £28,150,000.</strong><br/> CIFAS introduced a <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/identity-protection/protective-registration">Protective Registration service</a> the following year in 1994 to help protect victims of stolen cards, etc. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1990.png"/></div> <p> <span>1990</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £10,500,000 </strong><br/> Alan Hilton was appointed Chief Executive.<br/> Fraud cases were live for six months. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>1989</span><br/> Our membership increased to 38. Highlights from the first year of CIFAS included these statistics: 5,752 items entered by CIFAS members; 1,936 frauds detected. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="end"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/the-beginning.png"/></div> </div> <div id="timeline-mob"> <div class="row"> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2016</span><br/><strong> IFD members: 172<br/> NFD members: 285<br/> Fraud loss prevented by Cifas members: £1,028,777,942</strong><br/> Cifas was invited to participate in the Home Secretary’s initiative to collaborate to reduce fraud – the <a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-fraud-taskforce-management-board">Joint Fraud Taskforce</a> was founded in February. </p><br/> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2016.png" class="top-left"/> <p>Lady Barbara Judge, pictured, succeeded Ken Cherrett as Chairman, and a new Advisory Board including a Citizens’ Advocate was launched.</p><br/><br/> <p>Our first video ‘<a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq-0tjv4_BA">Data to Go</a>’ went viral – nearly 2 million views on Facebook and Twitter.</p><br/> <p>Another £1 billion in fraud loss was prevented.</p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2015.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2015</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by Cifas members: £1,104,025,083</strong><br/> Our 'Fraud Investigations Database' (FIND) was relaunched and our new refreshed brand went public. </p><br/> <p>For the second year running, we prevented over £1 billion in fraud loss.</p><br/> <p>The Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce (JMLIT) was created and Cifas was invited to participate.</p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2014</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £1,106,639,324</strong><br/> After consultation with the Home Office, the CIFAS Immigration Portal was created in order to allow retail banks to comply with the provisions of the <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/immigration-portal">Immigration Act 2014</a> </p><br/> <p>In the same year, UK deceased data was made available to our members.</p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2013.png" class="top-left" style="margin-bottom: 55px;"/> <p> <span>2013</span><br/><strong> IFD members: 110<br/> NFD members: 232<br/> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £968,445,226</strong><br/> We had our 25th anniversary and Simon Dukes was appointed as the new Chief Executive </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2012</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £762,418,971</strong><br/> CIFAS succeeded in its first attempt in achieving Investors in People (IIP) standard accreditation. IIP specialises in transforming business performance through people. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>2011</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £550,993,336</strong><br/> Five public sector bodies became members of CIFAS: the Legal Services Commission, the Financial Services Authority, the Student Loans Company, the Big Lottery Fund and the (then) UK Border Agency. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2010</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £513,920,204</strong><br/> CIFAS welcomed its first public sector member: the Legal Services Commission. </p> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2010.png" class="top-padding"/> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2009.png" class="top-left" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"/> <p> <span>2009</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £857,322,275</strong><br/> CIFAS partnered with Teesside University to develop the CIFAS foundation degree in Fraud Management. </p><br/> <p> A new case type 'Confirmed Fraud Risk' was built into CIFAS. Royal Mail and their cancelled 'mail redirects' were the first Confirmed Risk Fraud case type with £9 million savings reported by members. </p><br/> <p> The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) launched. We have provided it with data from the National Fraud Database since inception and we continue to be one of its largest data providers. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2008</span><br/> <strong>IFD members: 55<br/> NFD members: 241<br/> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2008.png" class="top-right" style="margin-bottom: 25px;"/> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £848,304,084</strong><br/> Over the past 20 years CIFAS had prevented a total of £5 billion in fraud loss. CIFAS took part in the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) 'Proof of Concept' in 2008. The NFIB is still hosted by the City of London Police (CoLP). </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>2007</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £987,829,077</strong><br/> <p>CIFAS was designated by the Home Office as a Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation (SAFO) under section 68 of the Serious Crime Act.</p> <p>The first Alternative Lenders joined CIFAS membership.</p> <p>CIFAS launched a new Bulk Protective Registration Service to help those companies who suffer data breaches.</p> </p> </div> <div id="y2006" class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2006.png" class="top-left"/> <p> <span>2006</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £789,816,426</strong><br/> CIFAS supplied Essex Police with 15 prolific identity fraud addresses and case details, to help tackle serious and organised criminals and demonstrate the link between fraud and other serious crime types. A number of arrests were made and crimes uncovered ranged from drugs offences, to handling stolen goods, and attempted murder. </p><br/> <p> The Staff Fraud Database (now the Internal Fraud Database) was launched in consultation with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). </p><br/> <p> CIFAS and SOCA (now the National Crime Agency) carried out a data match between the National Fraud Database and Suspicious Activity Reports. 25% of Suspicious Activity Reports matched to a fraud record in the National Fraud Database, highlighting the strong connection between fraud and money laundering. </p><br/> <p> Also in 2006, we welcomed the appointment of a CIFAS Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at every police force in the UK. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>2005</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £681,545,210</strong><br/> In a joint initiative with law enforcement and the commercial sector, CIFAS began designing vehicle fraud. The system, linked to ANPR cameras, contained details of fraudulently obtained and stolen vehicles to aid their recovery. The vehicle fraud project closed in 2008 due to withdrawal of Kent connectivity, a lack of sponsorship within Kent Police and the withdrawal of a major insurance sponsor. </p><br/> <p> The <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/insight/events/organised-fraud-intelligencegroup">Organised Fraud and Intelligence Group (OFIG)</a> began in 2005. It is made up of members, law enforcement and government partners, and provides a route for intelligence and investigation professionals to share information about fraud threats, trends and enablers. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <p> <span>2004</span><br/> <strong>Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £673,456,739</strong><br/> CIFAS launched the Fraud Check scheme. The scheme gave members a reciprocal method of checking the validity of bank details, contact details, documents, etc, in the course of a fraud investigation. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2003.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2003</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £486,969,948.</strong><br/> CIFAS launched the 'Fraud Investigations Database' (FIND) supported by LogicaCMG, the largest project in our then 15 year history. </p><br/> <p>Delivered on time and to budget, it set out to deliver £2.5 million per year in reduced operational costs to CIFAS members for an outlay of just over £1 million. It offered access to our data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.</p><br/> <p>CIFAS launched the first ever UK Identity Fraud Index in January. Developed from data supplied by 200 members, the index was designed to highlight the business sectors being targeted by fraudsters and organised crime. The index gained considerable media interest, with a feature appearing on Teletext!</p> </div> <div class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2002.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>2002</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £360,214,061</strong><br/> Application fraud was the most common type of fraud – individuals were hiding adverse credit information or fabricating their employment and/or salary in applications for credit. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2001.png" class="top-left" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"/> <p> <span>2001</span><br/> <strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £255,920,000.</strong><br/> The <a target="_blank" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230306215611/https://www.safps.org.za/">South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS)</a> was established with support from CIFAS. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/2000.png" class="top-left"/> <p> <span>2000</span><br/> <strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £210,000,000.</strong><br/> Identity fraud looked very different – there was very little current address fraud, it was predominantly previous address fraud (where the victim's genuine current address is given as the previous on the application).<br/><br/> The administration of GAIN, the Gone Away Information Network transferred to CIFAS. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1999.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>1999</span><br/> <strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £165,378,118</strong><br/> The first insurers joined CIFAS membership. Peter Hurst was appointed as Chief Executive: </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1998.png"/></div> <p> <span>1998</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £136,585,310.</strong><br/> CIFAS had 160 members comprising banks, building societies, retailers, telecommunications and leasing and hire companies. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1997.png"/></div> <p> <span>1997</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £113,526,887.</strong><br/> A common fraud modus operandi was an individual walking into a retailer with false documents in order to try and walk out with expensive electronics on store credit. They would hope Saturday staff didn't scrutinise the documents too carefully. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1993.png"/></div> <p> <span>1994</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £28,150,000.</strong><br/> CIFAS introduced a <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/identity-protection/protective-registration">Protective Registration service</a> the following year in 1994 to help protect victims of stolen cards, etc. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1991.png"/></div> <p> <span>1991</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £15,820,000.</strong><br/> CIFAS became a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee with a <a href="/web/20230306215611/https://www.cifas.org.uk/about-cifas/governance">Board</a> elected from the membership, the credit reference agencies and one representative from the police and National Consumer Council (NCC). Ken Cherrett (pictured) was approached to become Chairman. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <div class="center"><img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1990.png"/></div> <p> <span>1990</span><br/><strong> Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £10,500,000 </strong><br/> Alan Hilton was appointed Chief Executive.<br/> Fraud cases were live for six months. </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>1989</span><br/> Our membership increased to 38. Highlights from the first year of CIFAS included these statistics: 5,752 items entered by CIFAS members; 1,936 frauds detected. </p> </div> <div class="year even"> <img src="/web/20230306215611im_/https://www.cifas.org.uk/v3/images/timeline/1988.png" class="top-right"/> <p> <span>1988</span><br/> On 5 November, CIFAS, then known as the Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System, was launched. The eight-strong team all had other jobs. The seven founding members were all retail credit providers. From 1988 until 2003 members recorded their cases via the credit reference agencies (CRAs), by fax or post, then a CRA mainframe system, and finally by the Fraud Investigation Database (FIND). </p> </div> <div class="year odd"> <p> <span>1987</span><br/> At a seminar in 1987 for the credit industry, Detective Superintendent Graham Balchin urged industry leaders to cooperate to reduce fraud. 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