Kent push payment scam victim hits out at fraudsters
BBCThe owner of a Kent construction firm defrauded of nearly £400,000 has criticised scammers who targeted them.
In 2018, R Durtnell & Sons fell prey to "push payment" fraud where victims are tricked into sending cash to fraudsters pretending to be someone they trust.
A staff member believed their bank had called about suspicious activity on the Westerham firm's account.
Alexander Durtnell, who runs the family firm, said the scammers should "get a job... rather than stealing".
The fraudsters also targeted other companies.
BBC Radio 4's File on 4 programme has obtained a recording of a call from one of the other companies who were targeted to show how scammers work.
In the call, the conman establishes trust, then uses technical jargon, and then creates a sense of urgency to persuade the victim to transfer funds.
The fraud was part of a wider con targeting family-run businesses.
Mr Durtnell said: "It was pretty low. It becomes a lot more personal, I think, because it's our invested time and money and feelings."
The fraudsters were convicted and sentenced to 16 years.
Tamlyn Edmonds, a fraud prosecutor and partner at law firm Edmonds Marshall McMahon said more needed to be done against fraud.
She said: "Most frauds go underreported and [of] those that are reported, only a tiny fraction are investigated so there's no deterrent effect."
The Home Office said the government "continues to use the full force of the law" against fraudsters, and that £1.6bn had been recovered in criminal assets over the past six years.
It said £100m was being invested to create a National Fraud Squad.
Chief Superintendent Oliver Shaw for Action Fraud said fraud was now in the Strategic Policing Requirement, making it a priority for every police force.
He added that Action Fraud would be working with regional teams and with more resources, as well as launching a new reporting system for victims and issuing more fraud warnings next year.
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