Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) joins Cifas

Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), Scotland’s student funding body for Higher Education, has recently joined Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service.

SAAS joins over 400 other leading public and private sector organisations from across the UK as a Cifas member. Membership will provide SAAS with access to the National Fraud Database to help counter fraud, protect students and safeguard public funds. SAAS will also work with Cifas to deter fraudsters and provide information and advice to students on issues such as identity theft.

SAAS Chief Executive, Paul Lowe said: 
"We want to make sure that our student funding gets to those who need it.  Sadly each year SAAS has to take action against individuals and groups who are involved in fraud affecting the public purse.  We are therefore delighted to have joined Cifas which will significantly increase our capabilities to deter, prevent and detect fraud."

Cifas Chief Executive, Simon Dukes said:
"Our member organisations share with us around 850 confirmed frauds every day to prevent further fraud and protect customers. Cifas’ real-time, shared approach to fraud prevention is designed to stop fraudsters and protect their innocent victims. We welcome Student Awards Agency Scotland to the Cifas anti-fraud community and we also look forward to working with them to raise awareness of fraud amongst students."

ENDS

About SAAS

SAAS is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and national funding body for Scottish and EU students in Higher Education, providing information resources, support and funding. SAAS receives and provides funding for over 250,000 students each year and has a duty to protect these public funds from fraud. Information on all aspects of student support provided by SAAS can be found at website.

About Cifas

Cifas (pronounced ci like eye, fas like mass) exists to prevent fraud and financial crime. We are an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that protects businesses and individuals through effective and secure data and intelligence sharing between the private, public and third sectors. In 2016, Cifas member organisations prevented over £1 billion of fraud losses. Cifas data is included in the Office of National Statistics England and Wales Crime Statistics of police recorded crime. Every day, we send approximately 800 fraud cases to the City of London Police for potential investigation. Cifas also offers Protective Registration for individuals whose identities are at risk of being used fraudulently, for instance after a burglary. We also run a scheme called Protecting the Vulnerable, offered free of charge to local authorities to protect those under the care of Court Deputies who are unable to access financial products and whose identities may be at risk.

Contact us at press@cifas.org.uk