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Fraud and cyber crime


If you are suffering a live cyber crime attack that is in progress, call Action Fraud immediately on 0300 123 2040. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for businesses, charities and other organisations.

If you believe your business has been the victim of fraud or cyber crime, you should report this to Action Fraud.

The Action Fraud website provides guidance on different types of fraud including an A-Z of fraud to help you understand which type of fraud you might have been affected by.

Advice, guidance and training about cyber security is available at GOV.UK – Cyber security guidance for business. This includes links to Cyber Essentials, a Government-backed and industry-supported scheme to guide businesses in protecting themselves against cyber threats, and Cyber Aware, which offers simple advice to help small businesses. You can report suspicious emails to the National Cyber Security Centre through the Suspicious Email Reporting Service.

The South West Cyber Security Cluster is a not-for-profit collaboration raising cyber security awareness and best practice in the south west. Supported by the police, leading universities, industry experts and business organisations, the Cluster exists to raise the profile of cyber security issues and help the region’s businesses and organisations take steps to counter the threats.

The South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit (SWRCCU) is a section of the police that offers free, impartial, nationally supported guidance to organisations so they can better protect themselves against cyber attacks. The Cyber Protect team deliver presentations, interactive workshops and preparatory exercises to organisations of all sizes and sectors across the South West. SWRCCU also sends newsletters with the latest threat and protective advice, events, campaigns and resources.

If you need someone to help you right now, the not-for-profit Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West can refer you to reputable, local cyber companies with recognised accreditations. As part of a national police-led network, the centre exists to help businesses and charities protect themselves from cyber crime. It offers free core membership, guiding you to get safer, but can also support when things go wrong.

Businesses Against Scams, set up by the National Trading Standards Scams Team, includes a number of resources that companies can share with their employees to educate them on common business-related frauds.

The Metropolitan Police give 10 tips to prevent business fraud in their guide Business fraud and how to prevent it, where you can also download their Little Book of Big Scams Business Edition.

Watch our webinar below with Mark Moore from the Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West. Learn about what cybercrime looks like for a small businesses, and simple, understandable things you can do to reduce your risk.


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