Report fraud to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) takes all allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption seriously. Our Counter Fraud Strategy sets out our commitment to protecting the public purse and reducing the risks of fraud across our global network.

We work to prevent, detect and stop fraud and error wherever possible. Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and handled in line with data protection legislation.

How to report suspected fraud, bribery or corruption

If you suspect fraud, bribery or corruption linked to DBT activity, please tell us immediately. You can report concerns anonymously.

No issue is too small – if something does not seem right, let us know.

This mailbox is only monitored by DBT’s counter fraud team.  

Definition of fraud, bribery and corruption

Fraud

Deliberately deceiving someone to make a gain or to cause a loss or to expose another to the risk of loss.

Bribery

Offering, giving or receiving something of value to influence how someone acts or to secure an improper advantage.

Corruption

Abusing a position of trust or power for personal benefit.

What you can report

You can report any suspected wrongdoing involving DBT staff, contractors, delivery partners or funded organisations. Examples include:

• false representation
  • hiding information to claim a grant or payment you are not entitled to
  • individuals or companies falsely claiming to work for, or represent, DBT
  • forged or altered documents
• procurement, contractual, credit or payment fraud
• misuse or theft of DBT property or services, such as vehicles, equipment or IT
• requesting favours or payments to speed up or influence an official process
• using a position or influence to secure funding or contracts for friends or associates
• cybercrime
• errors or mistakes that could lead to financial loss or indicate potential wrongdoing

Information you should provide

When you contact us, include:

• your name and contact details (unless you prefer to remain anonymous)
• a clear description of your concern
• any relevant details, such as names of individuals or organisations involved, dates, locations, contract numbers or payment information
• whether you have reported the issue before, and to whom
• whether you hold any documents or evidence (please do not send this unless we ask for it)

How we will handle your referral

A member of DBT’s Counter Fraud team will be in touch to acknowledge your referral and explain the next steps.

If you ask to remain anonymous, we will take all reasonable steps to protect your identity. However, in some circumstances, such as criminal investigations, we may be legally required to disclose certain information. If this is likely, we will discuss it with you first.

If your report relates to an organisation within the wider DBT group, we may share the referral with the relevant counter fraud lead in that organisation so they can assess it and decide whether further investigation is needed.

How we protect whistleblowers

If you are reporting concerns about your employer or organisation, you may be acting as a whistleblower. In such cases, we will make every effort to keep your identity confidential unless you choose otherwise.

If you work within the wider DBT Group, you should refer to the whistleblowing guidance on your staff intranet for details of the protections available to you.

If you are unsure whether your disclosure qualifies for legal protection, you should seek independent advice.

Reporting fraud to others   

Depending on the type of concern, other organisations may also be able to investigate or provide advice. You should contact:

• the police – if you believe a crime has been committed
• HMRC – for concerns related to tax matters, including tax evasion and money laundering
• the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) – for large or complex cases of economic crime (the SFO investigates only a small number of major cases each year)

You can also report fraud, phishing and scams through the City of London Police ‘Report Fraud’ service.