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Issue 06
Spring 2021
NFI
MATTERS Developing strategies to detect and prevent fraud
The NFI -
delivering for you
today and tomorrow
Inside this issue:
PILOT PIPELINE - NFI MILESTONES - NEW FEATURES FOCUS ON - RECORDING
UPDATES AND FOCUS DATES FOR IN THE WEB COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION
ON INNOVATION YOUR DIARY APPLICATION SCHEME OUTCOMES
RELATING TO MATCHES
REFERRED TO THE DWP
77
Welcome to the in
6th issue of NFI Matters this
The last 12 months have been some of the most difficult in
living memory for us all as we try to deal with the issues that
ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE
OF NFI MATTERS ARE:
issue
the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. Despite these enormous
challenges the NFI team would like to thank you again for your
continued support. Hopefully as the COVID-19 vaccination New features in the web application - don’t
programme starts to reach wider sections of the UK population
we can begin to feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel
and life can begin to return to something we are all more
miss them!
FOCUS ON - Recording Council Tax Reduction
04 11 16
familiar with.
Scheme outcomes relating to matches referred Pilots - what’s AppCheck - Stop Working with
to the DWP coming through fraud at the door HMRC to bring you
“Despite these enormous challenges the NFI the pipeline using the NFI refined matches
team would like to thank you again, for your The changes that are being considered arising fraud prevention
from our review of the NFI estimates of fraud and application
continued support”
06
losses prevented and detected verification solution Security -
We’ve changed our
A record number of NFI datasets were submitted on time for password policy
the 2020/21 data matching exercise. So thank you for your help ... And more
78
Potential pilots
12
in getting the data in on time. As a result we hope to be able to As always if you would like us to cover
minimise the number of additional data match releases we have to something specific in a future edition or and innovation
17
issue in 2021. We know that minimising these match releases helps contribute a counter fraud or NFI related themes
you to plan your investigation resource much more effectively. article please contact me directly. NFI Milestones -
Submissions of Council Tax and Electoral Register for this year’s dates for your diary
08 What’s happening
annual Single Person Discount exercise were also above our Yvonne Addison
expectations. Over the course of the 2019/20 annual Single Person Head of Operational Delivery around the UK
Discount exercise, £26 million was identified by you, with just over and Communications, Cabinet Office
14
95% of overpayments being recovered. So those who engaged
New features in the
with us on this initiative have achieved some huge savings. Your
web application
18
hard work tracking down those continually claiming single person
discounts when they are not entitled, is very much commended.
FOCUS ON -
You will also see from the headline, in this issue of NFI Matters
Recording Council
09
there is some really good information about all the innovative Contact us... Premium Single
ideas we are working on with our IT partner, Synectics Solutions, Tax Reduction
to improve the effectiveness of the NFI. Scheme outcomes Person Discount
England
relating to matches Matching Service
There is a summary of the work we’ve been doing to improve nfiqueries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk We’ve enhanced
the risk scoring functionality following the sessions we held with our risk scoring referred to the DWP
Scotland
many of you last year. We have also included an update on our in line with your
acairns@audit-scotland.gov.uk
20
work widening the NFI data matching purposes with links to feedback
the consultation that opened on 10th February. We urge you to Wales
provide feedback on the consultation so please do send it through
by 10th March deadline.
david.rees@audit.wales
Northern Ireland 15 Mortality
To try and give you some help and pointers for when you are
reviewing your NFI matches, we have provided some milestones to
follow that should ensure you get the best results (such as locating
nficoordinator@niauditoffice.gov.uk
10 Review of estimates
for the NFI 2020/21
exercise
Screening from
the NFI
the most time critical matches to work on first, including those New purposes
to students). update
NFI MATTERS // 2 NFI MATTERS // 3
Pilots An update on pilots that have been undertaken recently
PILOT TITLE SUMMARY OUTCOMES NEXT STEPS
OUTCOMES
What’s coming
Multiple A pilot matching parking The pilot resulted in 60 We will be promoting
permits within and passes being cancelled this matching to London
Residents between two London which was a particularly Boroughs but we are
Parking Permits Borough Councils to effective hit rate from the also keen to hear from
through the identify where a permit
holder was not eligible
due to not residing at the
158 matches released. local authorities outside
London where this is a
risk to them.
pipeline
qualifying property or it
not being their
main residence.
Car Hire A pilot targeting The pilot prevented 135 We are now rolling out
potential fraudulent vehicles being rented this functionality as part
misrepresentation of where the applicant of the business as usual
name and address details could not be verified process for organisations
when hiring vehicles. to NFI data. in this sector.
HMRC A pilot in England using The pilot reported £8.8 A phase 2 of this pilot
Digital Economy Act million outcomes to to further explore the
insight (DEA) powers to access the DEA Board in April insight HMRC data
HMRC data to identify 2020 but outcomes have provides has been
We know fraudsters are always potential fraud across a continued to be reported approved by the DEA
looking for new areas to range of local authority since then and by 17th Board. We expect to
exploit and make money at our ABOUT THE NFI services, specifically December 2020 stood release matches in
79
expense. We try to counter this
threat by continually working
PILOT PIPELINE targeting ‘undeclared
property’, ‘undeclared
at £12.4 million. March 2021.
or under declared
with you, our counter fraud The NFI pilot pipeline includes ideas in earnings’, and ‘household
community, to come up with various stages, ranging from those that composition’.
new ways of using data to are in their infancy and require further
identify fraud across the public research, through to those where the
sector - both for existing or for case for undertaking a pilot is clear. Some
new emerging fraud problems. ideas are abandoned early on, maybe
because there is no clear legal gateway,
The effect of the pandemic
or perhaps there is a lack of evidence of
The pandemic impacted on our capacity to deliver pilots, as
fraud. Pilots can be small, involving one we diverted resources to support the wider Cabinet Office
organisation using just their own data, or work around COVID-19 fraud countermeasures. This included
larger - involving multiple organisations work to build the Experian ‘Bank account verification and
using data from within and between active company check’ into the NFI tool for local authorities
bodies and also third party data, perhaps to undertake checks on Business Support Grants. We also
carried out a small pilot with six local authorities to help us
from the private sector. understand the remit of the matching to be undertaken as part
of the mandation of local authorities Covid-19 payments data,
matching of this data is now underway.
HOWEVER ...the supply of pilot ideas has kept
flowing and we are now planning
to deliver more pilots during
2021/22. Please help us continue
this flow - if you have an idea for a
pilot and would like to understand
our process please contact
Nathan Nash (nathan.nash@
cabinetoffice.gov.uk) and quote
‘Pipeline2021’ in the subject line.
NFI MATTERS // 4 NFI MATTERS // 5
Pilots INNOVATION
THEME SUMMARY
Data Building on approaches such as network analysis, this theme looks to improve the
visualisation of potential frauds for users particularly where this is complex and involves
Visualisation multiple datasets.
Potential pilots Predictive Building on and learning from the success of predictive analytics to identify fraud in
other sectors, use the NFI data and associated outcomes, to better predict where fraud
in the Analytics may occur in future.
Management Information (MI) plays a key part in the NFI Team’s work and the number
Management of different reports has grown exponentially. MI is used to validate the accuracy of
Information outcomes reporting, understanding our impact, and refining our approach. We also
appreciate it’s very important for users to quickly and easily understand the impact of
the NFI on their organisations so the review will cover all MI reports.
and innovation themes
Submission of data for the main NFI exercise is a huge collaborative effort between
Automation of participants extracting and submitting the data and the data then being processed
data collection ready for matching. We want to look at ways to reduce the burden and improve the
regularity of data coming in to the NFI. The vision is to get to a situation where you
Some examples of pilots currently in the pipeline can push the data into the NFI automatically and/or you can allow us to pull the data
ourselves where possible. Of course this will be a big step so we’ll start small.
PILOT TITLE SUMMARY
AppCheck for Build a facility to undertake checks on companies. The work to date on business support
grants has shown the value in utilising the data and technology the NFI holds to facilitate
NHS Learning Targeting potentially fraudulent access to financial Companies checks on companies. We will work with you to better ensure we understand your needs
Support to support for NHS students. and to help shape this work.
Student Loans
Social Security This is to match Social Security Scotland data to identify Internal Building a facility within the NFI
to allow participating government
Scotland
potential fraud particularly targeting household composition Fraud Hub departments to check where
and misrepresentation of residency e.g. individuals fraudulently
80
individuals applying for employment
declaring residency in Scotland in order to access benefits. may have previously been dismissed.
Beds in Sheds Targeting properties that potentially have illegal accommodation.
Council Tax Available as part of the Premium Council Tax Single Person
Discount service. Targeting properties fraudulently declared as
(CT) Voids void where there is potentially a resident.
FraudHub
Disabled Targeting potential misrepresentation of residency in applications
PREVENT MORE FRAUD
for grants, and multiple applications for the same individual.
Facilities Grants
School Looking at where applications for school places include an address BY BUILDING A TAILOR-
Admissions
Fraud
which is potentially not the applicants permanent address.
MADE COLLABORATIVE
COMMUNITY
How we are seeking to innovate and grow the NFI FraudHub enables organisations to come Contact us today
together to share intelligence and insight to Tel: 0845 345 8019
We are currently working closely with our contractors on a number of help identify and stop potential fraud.
potential innovation themes. Work is underway to scope each theme and
build a detailed timetable. The projects fit in with the NFI strategic themes FraudHub provides local authorities and other
or
to continuously innovate using the latest technologies and methodologies public sector organisations with the opportunity Email: helpdesk@nfi.gov.uk
to prevent and detect fraud. As usual we are keen to get input from users to work together to detect or prevent fraud or
so as our plans develop we will reach out to you! to find out more about how you could
errors by sharing data in a secure way using build your own fraud prevention
proven techniques. community specific to your location.
NFI MATTERS // 6 NFI MATTERS // 7
New features in the web application We’ve
A NEW LOOK FOR THE NFI GUIDANCE
We have overhauled our guidance to make it more user friendly
enhanced our
and interactive. The new-look guidance can be found within the
Help & Guidance section of the web application. risk scoring in
line with your
The guidance is an essential part of your toolkit that seeks to help you get the
most out of the NFI, explains the purpose of the matches and highlights tips and
tools that will make your review really efficient.
OTHER NEW FEATURES THAT YOU
SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR… feedback
+ Keyword Search + Improvement to
Type in a word or title/partial shared matches
title of e.g. a guidance document and Not all matches are shared with both
it will look for it and give a link to go We have been working closely with
directly to it.
organisations. There was a facility to
enable the organisation with the users over the last few months to further
Enhancements
+ Export match to share it with the other party
but we have developed this so that develop our approach to risk scoring the
Addition of VH, H and M risk icons
Ability to export just the columns you can now share comments on NFI matches. We did this through a user against matches along with the
from a report you require rather than the match within the secure
all columns in the report and we have
survey and three Town Hall sessions. corresponding percentage risk scores
web application.
added an option to merge matches The Town Hall sessions were a new way
and comments into one export file. + User Administration
of engaging with users. We appreciated Change the default navigation from
81
The Key Contact or Senior the NATIONAL EXERCISES menu from
+ Navigation participation from a range of users/
Responsible Officer are now able to Fraud Risk view to the Matches view
A ‘Go to Match’ option in a report export the email addresses of the live organisations, which provided valuable
so you can locate a match quickly users to correspond with over the insight into how we can effectively Refinement of techniques used to
rather than paging through. NFI. A comment can also now be
added against user accounts.
support your needs. This has helped us generate recurring prior year matches
+ Senior Responsible to prioritise targeted developments over using 2018/19 statuses (Closed -
Officer changes + Matches referred to the DWP Already Known, No issue) to reduce
the coming months. unnecessary referrals in 2020/21
A tool that allows the Senior You can now reopen a housing
Responsible Officer or Key Contact benefit match referred to DWP if We have been working closely with our developers to
to notify us of changes to Senior they subsequently notify you they do enhance risk scoring functionality to more accurately
Responsible Officer contact details not want to investigate it with the reflect risk and to clearly signpost risk level. We
new ‘Revert Referral’ button. This will hope this will help users in prioritising and allocating
through the web application.
enable you to record local outcomes resources to review and investigate matches. We see Coming soon
+ Outcomes recording e.g. council tax reduction scheme this as a continuous journey, where we may make small
A Bulk Outcomes Upload tool is now weekly reductions and overpayments. tweaks each year. Capturing outcomes in the web
application is essential to improving risk scoring as we A way of identifying internal as
provided in reports 52, 801, 803 and + Quick Links & Favourites can learn which match types are most effective. opposed to external payments for NHS
814 - users download and complete a
Two mini tabs have been creditor reports to allow organisations
template, upload the template back
added to the Home page where to consider how they prioritise review
into the web application and
commonly used NFI pages or your of matches i.e. external creditors
outcomes are added automatically.
own frequently visited pages can payments may be deemed higher risk
Guidance on how to use this new
feature can be found in Section 8 be stored.
of the new guidance. + Match filters The ability to create custom filter
+ Tooltips A dynamic filter on the ‘Creditor combinations
To explain the categorisation of the Name’ and ‘Remarks’ fields in trade
Report Summary totals within a creditors reports to allow you to
prioritise matches for investigation. A way of marking matches of interest
report i.e. Processed, Investigating,
e.g. a ‘favourite’ status
Cleared, etc.
Thank you to all those who sent feedback
Addition of risk scores and filters in
and attended Town Hall sessions. A number HMRC reports
If you need help of enhancements were identified in addition
using these new tools/ to those outlined above which are being
features please do not reviewed for addition in the future.
hesitate to contact us
NFI MATTERS // 8 for assistance. NFI MATTERS // 9
AppCheck –
Stop fraud at the door
New purposes using the NFI fraud
prevention and application
update verification solution
In issue 4 of NFI Matters we told you about Our research shows that the data matching purposes will
create longer term efficiency savings that will help public
our work looking at whether we should widen
the NFI data matching purposes as set out services. Work to enact the purposes was one of the five Watch the training video
key objectives set out in the NFI strategic delivery plan
in the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2018 to 2022.
on the NFI web application to see how AppCheck works and
2014. In doing so we have also been looking how it could help you to save time, resources and reduce fraud
The proposals focus on increasing NFI’s operational
at possible updates to the NFI Code of Data even further in your organisation.
efficiency and value for the public sector. Early estimates
Matching Practice. suggest that by better utilising data already collected by
NFI, supplemented by additional data collection where
To recap the powers are: appropriate, enactment of these powers could deliver
early efficiency savings (within the first 3 years) of at least
£10 million a year to key public sector organisations. AppCheck is designed to allow users Reduce the risk of AppCheck provides built-in risk
82
We would expect savings to be far greater over a longer to quickly ascertain if there are any your organisation flags and intelligent colour coding
time period. Critically, research shows that there are factors affecting the eligibility of an falling victim to to make it easier to identify
clearly important wider outcomes for citizens overall individual to benefits and services fraud by stopping genuine applications or prioritise
i.e. the data matching powers would help: and/or check identity. invalid or fraudulent referrals for further investigation.
AppCheck ensures that all applications claims at the point of Key data sources are brought
to assist in the prevention to assist in the
and detection of crime are vetted, helping to provide your application together into one system for ease
apprehension and of use, including the ability to run
(other than fraud) prosecution of offenders The police solve crimes other organisation with an effective fraud
than fraud, or find offenders more prevention process. The real time a further check against Credit
Reduce administration
efficiently than is currently the case functionality will return a match or Reference Agency (CRA) data.
and future
all clear reports within seconds of an investigation costs This software can be used by
application search being made. This by managing the risk multiple teams within your
makes the product ideal for usage of getting it wrong at organisation at the same time to
Local authorities and government within both call centres or by frontline application ensure your whole organisation
departments to reduce debt owed to operatives. AppCheck is an online is covered.
to assist in prevention to assist in the recovery public bodies while adhering to the service delivered by a secure web
and detection of errors of debt owing to Fairness in Debt Management Principles application. There is a hierarchical user
and inaccuracies public bodies Reduce or stop the
structure to control access and monitor
provision of invalid or
searches that have been conducted
fraudulent payments
within your organisation.
We launched a public consultation on 10th February. Agencies or departments to reduce any
The consultation documents are available on GOV.UK and errors that might exist in official data
will be open for responses until 10th March. We would records and thereby helping to deliver
encourage you to review the consultation documents and more effective services or to ensure Getting started is quicker and easier than you think...
respond at your earliest convenience. You can respond citizens receive the benefits they are
online or by email. The results of this consultation will be entitled to
instrumental in determining the way forward.
...and if you have not already done so we are still
offering a FREE TRIAL of the service.
For further information contact Please email: helpdesk@nfi.gov.uk
nfiqueries@cabinetofice.gov.uk or call 0845 345 8019
NFI MATTERS // 10 NFI MATTERS // 11NFI Milestones
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR TIMETABLE
dates for your diary
Here are some key milestones based on our analysis of activity within the
web application, to help you plan your approach to the NFI exercise.
Feb 21
All time-critical/very high
2021
Top Tip
Mar 21
Refreshed data from the
Apr 21
Report 803 Council Tax to
May 21
The remainder of the
Jun 21
Start to prepare data
risk matches (i.e. deceased national exercise received NFI data will be released 2020/21 match reports for additional mortality
and student related) should To help Users locate the matches you by the 1 December deadline into ReCheck. should have been reviewed, screening ready for the
have been allocated to want them to investigate quickly we should be available for matches selected and June submission deadline.
investigators to action. urge you to use the Assign User tool matching against in allocated for investigation.
As soon as you have within reports. Assigning matches to ReCheck and AppCheck. Matches not selected
outcomes, for example, from users generates a personalised ‘My We will also use this data to should be ‘Closed - Not
concessionary travel and blue Matches’ tab where all the matches commence production of Selected for Investigation’.
badge reports please record are stored in one place. Refer to the your report 803 Council Tax
them in the web application. Guidance - Section 4 for details on to NFI data (as applicable).
how to use this tool.
83
Sep 21 Oct 21 Nov 21 2022
Outcomes from
investigations should be
feeding through so they can
Start to prepare for the
annual Council Tax Single
Person Discount (CTSPD)
Start to prepare data
for additional mortality
screening ready for the
Jan 22 Feb 22 Mar 22
be recorded in the relevant exercise and submission of November submission
reports. You should be Council Tax and Electoral deadline.
Ensure you have uploaded The majority of 2020/21 It is important that
identifying case studies register data. Submission
your Council Tax and investigations will be outcomes are recorded
to pass to the NFI team to opens on 1 December.
Electoral Register completed. Work may still promptly and accurately
promote your successes.
submissions before the be ongoing on CTSPD so the NFI Team can
end of January deadline, matches, but we urge you to calculate the outcomes
to generate your Council record interim outcomes at from the 2020/21 national
Top Tip Tax Single Person Discount the end of February rather exercise as at 31 March
matches. than wait until all work has 2022, to be reported
You could get ahead by setting up We will be starting been completed. You can nationally.
your templates ready to create to look through the update the figures in the web
automated follow-up charge payer web application for application when all work is
letters directly from the matches, to any cases that are completed. Why not use the
print and distribute locally (or use particularly noteworthy new bulk outcomes upload
the templates we have prepared for that demonstrate your tool mentioned on page 8.
you). Full details on how to use this hard work. If you have
tool are provided in the Council Tax any you would like us to
Single Person Discount Guidance work with you on please
under the Help menu. please contact us.
NFI MATTERS // 12 NFI MATTERS // 13Review of estimates for
FOCUS ON the NFI 2020/21 exercise
changes that are being considered
Recording Council We are in the process of THESE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT:
Tax Reduction Scheme completing a review of our
fraud prevention and detection Data relevant to the fraud problem, including national
outcomes relating to matches estimate methodologies to published data and data from previous NFI cases
ensure they are based on
current research and fit for
referred to the DWP
The policy context relative to the fraud problem
purpose. Approved changes
will be applied to the 2020/21
web application. Any regional variances that may result in the generation of
estimate methodologies specific to a region or area
One of the improvements we have made in the Housing Each NFI dataset has its own
Benefit report for the 2020/21 exercise is to allow you methodology to calculate the
to reopen cases that had been referred to the DWP for estimated element of fraud Alignment (where possible) with relevant estimated savings
prevented/detected. methodologies used in other central government departments
investigation using a new Revert Referral button within
the Comments/Outcomes box.
GOVERNANCE PROCESS
Changes to We then Finally we take them to the Once confirmed
estimates are present them Cabinet Office Fraud Prevention with the Fraud
84
shared with to the Cabinet Panel for approval. Prevention Panel
Audit Scotland, Office NFI the methodologies
The Cabinet Office Fraud
Northern Ireland Governance are built into the NFI
Prevention Panel consists of five
Audit Office Board. web application,
cross government counter fraud
and the Audit so your estimated
experts who review and challenge,
The main reason we have done this is so that you can record reductions and/or overpayments of Council Wales for initial savings for the
where necessary, methodologies
Tax Reduction following either a DWP investigation or a local investigation. You can also use this new facility approval. outcomes you
for calculating the estimated
to reopen a match to record other overpayments from a local investigation should the DWP have notified you record can be
value of fraud prevention
that they did not wish to proceed with the investigation. The case should then be closed ‘Closed – Error’. automatically
initiatives across all government
generated.
departments.
Use the multiple occurrence link to coordinate investigations
The following changes
When we are preparing matches for release, if we find another occurrence of the matched being explored for You can see your estimated savings at match level when
individual in a different NFI report we will connect them by adding a hyperlink to their surname.
If you click on the surname, the location of the other match(es) are displayed along with 2020/21 include: you record outcomes. To view the overall outcomes for your
organisation, including the estimated savings by dataset, open
other useful information such as the title of the report the individual appears in. You can then Right to Buy - to reflect changes in the applicable ‘Outcomes Summary report (Form 4)’ MI report,
consider the other match(es) alongside your current investigation. house prices and Right to Buy discounts available in the ‘Management Information’ section of the
in England and Northern Ireland and web application.
Another way of reviewing individuals that appear in more than one report is to look at Report 9999. You can cessation of the Right to Buy scheme
use the filter tool within this report to highlight e.g. where an individual appears in 3 or more NFI reports; in Wales Once finalised, a full breakdown of NFI 2020/21 estimated
appears more than once in the same report; or appears in reversed reports. Refer to Section 5 of the NFI savings methodologies for each dataset will be available on
guidance (Communicating with other organisations) for more help with Report 9999. the Help & Guidance menu.
Recovery of a property (Northern
Ireland) - to reflect the latest research
WARNING - be careful not to record the same overpayment in multiple places as it will overstate your from Northern Ireland Housing Executive
overall NFI outcomes.
Recovery of a property (England)
- a review of the current ‘annual cost of
temporary accommodation’ aspect of
For further information
If you have any feedback on this please contact the methodology contact Susan Baker via
nfiqueries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk nfiqueries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
NFI MATTERS // 14 NFI MATTERS // 15Working with COMING What’s
HMRC to bring you SOON...
refined matches Happening
Around
Following the successful pilot in England using HMRC
information, identifying around £12.4 million of outcomes (as at
17th December 2020), we have been able to secure agreement to
the UK
use the Digital Economy Act (DEA) 2017 and the Local Audit and
Accountability Act 2014, to carry out a second pilot.
We are working closely with HMRC to make refinements
that will reduce false positives and produce even better
those reported for the initial pilot. We welcome support
and engagement from local councils in England and Wales
Northern Ireland
quality matches for participants to investigate. Wales is now
on the DEA schedules and therefore Welsh Councils will
to maximise the benefits of this matching. If the results
continue to be significant the next step will be to consider
Fraud Risk Guides
85
also be included in the matching this time. how best to incorporate HMRC data into NFI in future.
The NFI Coordinator for Northern Ireland,
The matches will once again be concentrated on identifying Valerie Evans, has highlighted the work done
undeclared property ownership, non or under declared in 2020 by the Northern Ireland Audit Office
earnings and capital along with misrepresentation of (NIAO) to raise awareness of increased fraud
household composition. If you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, inclusion in risks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Access to HMRC data presents a great opportunity and the DEA schedules is under consideration. Subject to “In terms of exceptional years, 2020 will be difficult
we would encourage participants to make the most of that happening, Scottish and Northern Irish councils to beat. The impact of Covid-19 has led to crisis and
the matches as we anticipate that outcomes could exceed could benefit from these matches next time. dramatic change across the globe, but there is one
group of people who relish such circumstances,
seeing them as a golden opportunity – fraudsters.
“Huge volumes of emergency grant payments
administered at speed, dramatic changes in demand Self-Appraise your involvement
SECURITY
for certain types of products, a massive increase in the NFI with these checklists
in remote working, a surge in online shopping
during lockdowns – all of these provide significant for Scottish and
opportunities for fraudsters, and pose serious
threats for both organisations and individuals.
Welsh participants
We’ve changed our password policy
There is already clear evidence that fraudsters have
been quick to seize upon such opportunities, with A two-part checklist, designed to help all
regular stories in the media about organisations and participating NFI bodies self-appraise their
individuals suffering financial loss as a result. involvement in the NFI prior to and during the
In November 2020, based on the latest guidance from NFI exercises, is available for Scottish and Welsh
the National Cyber Security Centre, we changed the Useful reading: “The NIAO has worked with the Cabinet Office in
relation to taking forward additional data matching
participants. Part A is designed to assist audit
committee members and Part B is for officers
way we ask you to create a password and the frequency https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/files/ around business support grants. In addition, we have involved in the NFI exercise. Some suggestions
we ask you to change it. password_policy_infographic.pdf been keen to raise awareness of the increased fraud for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of
risks, and in recent months have produced two guides reviewing and investigating NFI matches are
It is considered that enforcing password changes may increase risk of – on Covid-19 fraud risks and procurement fraud also included.
password discovery as users write passwords down, and/or increment https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/ risks – both available on our website at
a numeric element meaning they may be more readily deducible small-business-guide/using- https://www.niauditoffice.gov.uk/
based on historic passwords. Scottish Checklist: Welsh checklist:
passwords-protect-your-data publications/type/goodPractice.
Security of your login to the NFI system is also strengthened by “The guides provide a quick point of reference for National Fraud National Fraud
2-factor authentication. In addition, monitoring and periodic review https://www.microsoft.com/ Northern Ireland public sector organisations and set Initiative Self- Initiative Self-
of user activity such as out-of-hours logins helps to identify patterns en-us/research/wp-content/ out the mitigating controls that can be put in place to appraisal checklist appraisal Checklist
of suspicious activity. Accounts are also temporarily locked out after uploads/2016/06/Microsoft_ minimise the risk of losses to fraud.”
multiple login attempts with incorrect passwords are attempted. Password_Guidance-1.pdf
NFI MATTERS // 16 NFI MATTERS // 17Premium Single Person
Discount Matching Service
GET A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW Premium Single Person
OF INDIVIDUALS CLAIMING Discount Matching Service
COUNCIL TAX SINGLE BARNSLEY CASE STUDY
PERSON DISCOUNT
Price freeze Increasing Council Tax Minimising fraud and irregularity is frauds and irregularities, fraud detection
at 2019 Revenue with the Premium vital in ensuring resources intended to
provide essential services to Barnsley
initiatives and identification of losses
enabling the recovery of Council funds.
Even if you have already uploaded your data for the annual levels of just Council Tax Single Persons residents are used for that purpose. The
In addition, the team supports the
NFI Council Tax Council Tax Single Persons Discount (CTSPD)
28p
Discount Matching Service Council’s Corporate Anti-Fraud Team is
application of appropriate sanctions
exercise it’s not too late to upgrade to our Premium CTSPD located within Internal Audit. The Team
available through the NFI balances pro-active counter fraud work
including: prosecutions, cautions and
matching service to gain access to a more comprehensive view disciplinary action.
with investigations into allegations of
of your single person discount claimants’ data footprint.
per record
APPROACH/SOLUTION
One of the NFI’s main objectives is The Premium CTSPD matching
to help you drive down the cost of service will allow you to focus The Corporate Anti-Fraud Team coordinate the NFI exercise on behalf of
By using this premium service, you
the Council and are responsible for the review and investigation of many
Just over 2,000
fraud through continued product your resources effectively on are protecting public services by: non council tax
development and improvement. investigating individuals based of the matches.
+ Ensuring individuals are not support records
We believe this premium service on the data footprint and appear The Council’s Benefits and Taxation Department also gets involved in the exercise,
receiving discounts they are no already identified
86
gives you an enhanced view of to no longer be entitled to the filtering and investigating the Council Tax Single Person Discount (CTSPD)
the individuals claiming a single discount. We provide clear risk longer entitled to in the mandatory
matches. In 2019, the Department decided to use the Premium Council Tax Single
person discount. Combining credit scores for each record allowing you exercise were targeted
+ Maximising the revenue from Persons Discount matching service available through the NFI. This service offers
reference data and the wide range to drill down to review the record council tax collection enhanced checks on the single person discount and electoral register information
for the premium
of information held in the NFI data prioritising your work streams or already submitted as part of the mandatory annual NFI CTSPD exercise. service.
sets, can provide a more complete areas of focus where you believe + Reducing fraud levels for
data footprint for a household, your organisation may be exposed your organisation
helping you identify undeclared to risk. The service also allows + Maintaining up to date
changes of circumstances. Our you to identify genuine customers customer records
continued partnership with one whose entitlement is correct. VALUE ANALYSIS
of the UK’s leading credit + Enabling eligible individuals to
referencing agencies delivers receive the discount they are The returned matches were displayed
entitled to A spokesperson from
this seamless service. in the NFI secure web application in
Barnsley Council said:
a dashboard format which made it
easier for users to review and prioritise “Using the NFI Premium CTSPD is a simple,
investigations. To date the Council cost-effective way to maintain the accuracy
Councils that have used the premium service have reported actual, and
prevented savings as a result of removing entitlement to the discount, of
has successfully generated £172,447
in increased council tax revenue due
to the successful removal of single
£172,447 of the council tax database. We were able
to target non council support records only
and check matches against other sources
just over £4.3 million with 99.7% of actual overpayments recovered. person discounts being claimed IN INCREASED of data, at a time that suited the Corporate
fraudulently or in error. COUNCIL TAX REVENUE Anti-Fraud Team and the Benefits and
Taxation Department.”
The service provides you with:
Confirmation Verification Additional insights
of the relating to other
claimants
current
that the
claimant is individuals who
may be living at the
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
living alone
residence address who have not
been disclosed For more information about how to take up this service please contact
the NFI helpdesk on 0845 345 8019 or email helpdesk@nfi.gov.uk
NFI MATTERS // 18 NFI MATTERS // 19Mortality
Screening from the NFI
The NFI has access to the most comprehensive and accurate data for Mortality
Screening - and we are continually looking to improve
In a time of devastation and upheaval following the death of family members, failing to report the death in a timely
manner will no doubt happen, but there is the more serious risk that criminals will take advantage in such situations and
fail to report a death with the intent to commit fraud.
On a pilot basis we will look to improve the completeness of records received for mortality screening by appending data
to poorly populated fields from other NFI data, for example, turning an initial into a full forename. This should result in
matches with stronger matchkeys.
The NFI offers two mortality screening services:
Mortality Screening via the National Mortality Screening via ReCheck
Exercise – DWP screening every 6 months – On demand DDRI
Twice a year we access the deceased persons file held We are in the unique position to have access to the
by the DWP. This data also contains National Insurance Deceased Death Register from the General Register
numbers which can be used as a matching field alongside (DDRI). You can screen against DDRI at any time and
name, date of birth and address. The data also holds results are usually available on the web application the
details of some British Citizens who have died abroad same day. Data is uploaded through the ReCheck,
and this has proven very successful particularly when Data File Upload tool.
administering pensions. Data is uploaded through the
2020/21 National Exercise, Data File Upload tool.
Fees for the above services
can be found on our website.
Dates to remember:
Friday, 25th June 2021
Data for the summer 2021 screening will be
required no later than Friday, 25th June 2021.
If you wish to submit data please register
your interest by emailing the NFI
helpdesk@nfi.gov.uk
or call 0845 345 8019
For technical queries relating to
the web application:
Call: 0845 345 8019
Email: helpdesk@nfi.gov.uk
For general queries contact:
England: nfiqueries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Scotland: acairns@audit-scotland.gov.uk
Wales: david.rees@audit.wales
Northern Ireland: nficoordinator@niauditoffice.gov.uk
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NFI MATTERS // 20This page is intentionally left blank
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