DCPCU TARGETS "SMISHING" SCAMS

The police unit funded by the banking and cards industry, the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), has made eight arrests following a series of early morning operations targeting individuals suspected of sending out 'smishing? texts. These scam messages aim to steal people's personal and financial details by directing recipients to fake versions of trusted organisations? websites, such as Royal Mail. 

The arrests formed part of a week of action led by officers from the DCPCU in partnership with Royal Mail and the telecoms industry. The suspects arrested during the operations are believed to have been involved in sending out scam texts primarily posing as Royal Mail, which claim the recipient needs to pay an outstanding postage fee for a parcel or input their details to rearrange a delivery. 

During the searches, valuable intelligence was gathered and several devices suspected of being used in smishing scams were seized. The unit also recovered numerous customers? financial details, enabling these bank accounts to be protected.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson, the head of the DCPCU, commented: 

?The success of these operations shows how through our close collaboration with Royal Mail, the financial services sector, and mobile phone networks, we are cracking down on the criminals ruthlessly targeting the public. 

?Ongoing investigations are now underway and we will continue to work together to bring those committing smishing scams to justice."

CBI SETS OUT ECONOMIC PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSES

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged the government to work with British businesses to help the economy recover after the pandemic (The Times, £). The group has set out a five-year economic plan for government and businesses to deal with the fallout from Brexit and Covid-19. The group said that improving a number of areas including growing overseas trade, developing skills, and decarbonisation could result in an economic boost of £700 billion.

As part of its plan, the CBI wants to develop "superstar" exporters that export ten-plus products to ten-plus markets (Financial Times, £). The group also called for the tax system to be reassessed to ensure business investment is protected and international competitiveness is enhanced. Additionally, the CBI said British businesses have the opportunity to create 240,000 low-carbon jobs and could gain from an "early mover advantage" by leading a campaign to decarbonise the economy to avoid a climate meltdown (The Guardian).

NEWS IN BRIEF

The governor of the Bank of England (BoE) Andrew Bailey will appear before the Treasury select committee today to answer questions about the risks of inflation and prospects for interest rate rises (The Times, £).

UK ministers have said they are increasingly confident that the easing of all lockdown restrictions in England will go ahead on 21 June (Financial Times, £).

The UK is the most digitally advanced country in the world, according to a survey by McKinsey that revealed 86 per cent of the UK has used e-commerce or online services in the past six months (City AM).

The G7 is close to a deal on the corporate taxation of multinationals, paving the way for a global deal later in the year to create new rules for levies on the world's largest companies (Financial Times, £).

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