Stephen Dalton
Director of Intelligence, Cifas

Stephen joined us to present the organisation’s “Fraudscape 2025” report shortly after it was released. Stephen also covered the current fraud trends and emerging threats that have been gathered from this year’s member data. He also discussed topical issues that have been picked up through the project, and their impact on lenders.

Our panel session covered all the issues on the agenda. Panellists were drawn from CCTA membership, with Scott Woolveridge, Operations Director, GAIN Credit and Jamie Place, Chief Information Officer, Evlo, providing the lending viewpoint. We were also joined by Stephen Adams, Principal Fraud and ID Risk Consultant, Equifax. Stephen was able to share views from the perspective of the credit reference agency.

There was much discussion of how financial businesses can work together to address these issues. AI was covered, with there being a recognition that it could be ‘friend or foe’. It was agreed that it can be a helpful tool, but criminals are constantly using it for their own gain.

Anna Fraser
Liase Officer, Illegal Money Lending Team

Even the most conservative estimates suggest over one million people are using loan sharks in the UK, so it is vitally important that we work together on access to credit, but also how best to stop and convict loan sharks.

Anna talked about the changing nature of this crime and the new ways criminals are exploiting their targets. She also shared insights into the victims and the circumstances that led to them borrowing from an illegal lender.