the fourth annual conference of the
Eastern Fraud Forum

Thursday 18th March 2010
Ipswich Town Football Club



I would like to invite you to the fourth annual conference of the Eastern Fraud Forum.

The effects of the economic downturn continue to be felt. Levels of reported fraud are still rising, and surveys suggest that this trend will carry on even after the economy starts to improve. Meanwhile, fraud prevention departments across all sectors are being cut, and the job of the anti-fraud practitioner does not get any easier!

The Eastern Fraud Forum brings together practitioners involved in combating fraud in both the public and private sectors, to share experiences, ideas and information. We aim to promote fraud awareness and best practice in fraud prevention through our masterclasses, seminars and workshops, run for our members across the region.

For our fourth conference we have put together a programme focusing on working together. In the currrent climate the importance of sharing information cannot be overstated, as only through increased and improved collaboration will companies and organisations be able to lessen the risk of their being hit by fraud.

The panel of expert speakers we have brought together for the conference will provide insights into key issues currently facing all those involved in combating fraud. The Information Commissioner’s Office will look at information sharing, and what information can and can’t be provided by one entity to another. There will be an update from the City of London Police, the Lead Force on fraud, on the newly launched National Fraud Reporting Centre, and how this will work. Keypoint Services will explain what information is legally available, when using enquiry agents, and the journalist Tony Hetherington will speak about how to deal with the media in fraud investigations. And, of course, we are again running our popular interactive breakout sessions, this year on the topics of whistleblowing, working together through partnerships, fraud and the SME, and document control and exhibit handling techniques.

Our fourth conference is an ideal opportunity for existing Eastern Fraud Forum members to meet and network with fellow anti-fraud practitioners who you may have met at previous events, but it also provides a very useful introduction for new members to the work of the organisation and the benefits of joining. The Eastern Fraud Forum is a non-for-profit organisation, and we are therefore able to keep the delegate fee for our conference at the great value-for-money rate of £120 + VAT. Attendance at the conference again includes a year’s membership of the organisation.

We very much hope you will to want to join your fellow fraud professionals from across the region to ensure that we continue to combine all our efforts in strengthening the fight against financial crime. I look forward to meeting you at the conference, and during the course of the coming year.

Regards



David Jefferies
Chairman
Eastern Fraud Forum