On the 06 June 2023 NATIS Investigation Officers, together with Officers from the Metropolitan and Hertfordshire Police executed warrants at 4 addresses across the London and Hertfordshire areas.
The joint operation resulted in four suspect interviews and evidence being secured for fraud & money laundering offences relating to COVID Bounce Back Loan applications.
The four suspects have been released under investigation whilst enquires continue.
Multiple fraudulent applications were made by 10 individuals using false information to obtain the loans and the funds have subsequently been laundered, the value of the fraud is in excess of 1.3 million.
Claire Sheals, Investigations Team Manager at NATIS said: ‘This highlights how effective collaboration between NATIS and other enforcement agencies can be to target those who commit fraud against the COVID Government Schemes which opened during the pandemic.’
The National Investigation Service (NATIS) is a centrally funded collaboration between government and law enforcement to investigate serious and organised crime affecting the public purse.