Construction industry investigation sees 21 arrests
The UK government has confirmed that 21 people have been arrested in connection with a £6 million fraud relating to the construction industry. The 18 men and three women have been detained on suspicion of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and money laundering offences which could ultimately have robbed thousands of construction workers of taxation and national insurance payments they believed had been paid on their behalf.
This is not the first such fraud to be unveiled by the UK government as the recession has brought to the surface a number of criminal gangs who are prepared to chance their arm with potentially millions upon millions of pounds of proceeds at stake. The raids yesterday saw £70,000 in cash, computers, documentation and a substantial stash of drugs seized and investigations are said to be continuing.
Historically fraud has always increased during difficult economic periods and this particular recession appears to have brought out the worst in many people. The UK authorities have a major job on their hands trying to contain and reduce the impact of such frauds which involve many people who are not even aware that their funds and income are being diverted. The more desperate people become the lower their guard falls!
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