What is Cifas?

Who we are

We are a not-for-profit membership organisation that brings different sectors together for the common goal of eliminating fraud and financial crime. For over 35 years we have provided a secure, legal and effective framework for the real time sharing of high grade fraud risk data and intelligence. Hundreds of organisations work with us - ranging from high street banks, telcos, and insurers through to the public sector and government - all benefiting from each other’s data, intelligence, and learning. Our members share their data and intelligence across sectors to reduce instances of fraud and financial crime.

Throughout the UK, our experts and services help protect individuals and organisations from the growing and increasingly sophisticated threat of fraud and financial crime. Since 1988, Cifas has helped its members s protect themselves from billions of pounds worth of fraud losses.

With every organisation that becomes a Cifas member, or with whom we collaborate, 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.

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.

Read our Code of Ethics

What we do

Cifas for individuals

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.

If you’ve been a victim of identity fraud, or feel your personal data is vulnerable due to a breach, we offer Protective Registration. Find out more about keeping your personal details safe on our Identity Protection page.

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 Data Subject Access Request. Find out more about the information Cifas holds on individuals on the Subject Access Request page.

Cifas for organisations

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 criminals. Our methods utilise a number of products and services including fraud risk databases,investigative and analytical tools, and networking opportunities for our members and law enforcement partners.

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.

Cifas Timeline

TODAY

2017
The Home Office joined Cifas – the first government department to do so in its entirety. Cifas also welcomed its 400th member organisation.

Cifas achieved its Investors in People (IIP) Silver Accreditation.

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 government officials are better informed of the nature and scale of economic crime when creating national counter-economic crime policies.

2015
Fraud loss prevented by Cifas members: £1,104,025,083
Our 'Fraud Investigations Database' (FIND) was relaunched and our new refreshed brand went public.

For the second year running, we prevented over £1 billion in fraud loss.

The Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce (JMLIT) was created and Cifas was invited to participate.

2013
IFD members: 110
NFD members: 232
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £968,445,226
We had our 25th anniversary and Simon Dukes was appointed as the new Chief Executive

2011
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £550,993,336
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.

2009
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £857,322,275
CIFAS partnered with Teesside University to develop the CIFAS foundation degree in Fraud Management.

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.

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.

2007
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £987,829,077

CIFAS was designated by the Home Office as a Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation (SAFO) under section 68 of the Serious Crime Act.

The first Alternative Lenders joined CIFAS membership.

CIFAS launched a new Bulk Protective Registration Service to help those companies who suffer data breaches.

2005
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £681,545,210
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.

The Organised Fraud and Intelligence Group (OFIG) 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.

2003
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £486,969,948.
CIFAS launched the 'Fraud Investigations Database' (FIND) supported by LogicaCMG, the largest project in our then 15 year history.

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.

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!

2001
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £255,920,000.
The South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) was established with support from CIFAS.

1999
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £165,378,118
The first insurers joined CIFAS membership. Peter Hurst was appointed as Chief Executive:

1997
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £113,526,887.
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.

1991
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £15,820,000.
CIFAS became a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee with a Board 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.

1988
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).

1987
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.

2016
IFD members: 172
NFD members: 285
Fraud loss prevented by Cifas members: £1,028,777,942
Cifas was invited to participate in the Home Secretary’s initiative to collaborate to reduce fraud – the Joint Fraud Taskforce was founded in February.

Lady Barbara Judge, pictured, succeeded Ken Cherrett as Chairman, and a new Advisory Board including a Citizens’ Advocate was launched.

Our first video ‘Data to Go’ went viral – nearly 2 million views on Facebook and Twitter.

Another £1 billion in fraud loss was prevented.

2014
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £1,106,639,324
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 Immigration Act 2014

In the same year, UK deceased data was made available to our members.

2012
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £762,418,971
CIFAS succeeded in its first attempt in achieving Investors in People (IIP) standard accreditation. IIP specialises in transforming business performance through people.

2010
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £513,920,204
CIFAS welcomed its first public sector member: the Legal Services Commission.

2008
IFD members: 55
NFD members: 241
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS Members: £848,304,084
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).

2006
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £789,816,426
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.

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).

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.

Also in 2006, we welcomed the appointment of a CIFAS Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at every police force in the UK.

2004
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £673,456,739
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.

2002
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £360,214,061
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.

2000
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £210,000,000.
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).

The administration of GAIN, the Gone Away Information Network transferred to CIFAS.

1998
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £136,585,310.
CIFAS had 160 members comprising banks, building societies, retailers, telecommunications and leasing and hire companies.

1994
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £28,150,000.
CIFAS introduced a Protective Registration service the following year in 1994 to help protect victims of stolen cards, etc.

1990
Fraud loss prevented by CIFAS members: £10,500,000
Alan Hilton was appointed Chief Executive.
Fraud cases were live for six months.

1989
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.