Today we are an elite group of handpicked lawyers across 14 countries that has recovered hundreds of millions of pounds. Fraud specialists, we are equipped with everything it takes to trace, freeze, seize, secure and return assets. Motivated – no matter the size and the scale of the fraud – by four tiny words: “What’s yours is yours”. We don’t rest until it is. 

Fraud is a global industry. Fraudsters are devious. They cross borders, cover their tracks and create trusts to conceal assets. But however complex unravelling a fraud is, our aims are re-assuringly simple: investigate the matter, locate your money or your assets, and return them. For the simple reason: “What’s yours is yours”.

Our weapons of choice are the order and the injunction. They are the game changers without which assets can be moved and evidence destroyed. We know how to convince judges to grant them.

We can then pursue fraudsters across jurisdictions care of the global nature of our network. IFG lawyers are expert in the use of cross-border piggyback injunctions specifically for this purpose.

If you were a victim of fraud, how hard or easy would it be to recover your assets?

First you’d have to trace them. Fraud is a borderless industry and fraudsters move fast and globally. Fortunately since 1997 the International Fraud Group has moved faster and, through its network of specialist fraud lawyers, has returned hundreds of millions of pounds to its owners.

If you suspect fraudsters have already struck, it isn’t too late. Contact us, The International Fraud Group. The people who believe what’s yours is yours.

Fraud and fraudsters have no respect for borders and jurisdictions. A network that is serious about defeating both can only do so if it is equally global. IFG lawyers in one jurisdiction will invariably need the help of IFG lawyers elsewhere. Each one is able to rely on the others’ expertise in their local jurisdiction.

For this reason we now have members in 14 countries, including those key offshore jurisdictions where fraudsters are particularly fond of hiding stolen assets. 14 firms united by the conviction that “What is yours is yours”, “ce qui est à toi est à toi”, “was dein ist, ist dein”, “cio che e tuo e tuo”, “lo que es tuyo, es tuyo”, “o que e seu, e seu”, “wat van jou is van jou”, “hva er ditt, er ditt”.

Welcome to the November edition of Mishcon Fraud Watch. Its aim is to provide businesses and their advisors with a snapshot of what has been happening in the world of fraud in the last month.

We make nojudgment whatsoever as to the morality, legality or appropriateness of the conduct which forms the subject matter of this bulletin. We simply aim to bring these matters to the attention of those involved in the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud.

UNITED KINGDOM

Charity tax fraud

Elizabeth Lewis, 38, has been found guilty of laundering the proceeds of 13 bogus gift aid claims made by her husband, Mark Lewis, chief executive of the Welsh Independent School of Climbing and Mountaineering Trust. At the time, she worked as a fraud investigator for the Department for Work and Pensions. Lewis has been given a suspended 18 month prison sentence for her role in the £885,000 charity tax fraud.

Welcome to the November edition ofMishcon’s Culture vs Corruption Diary. Its aim is to provide businesses and their advisors with a snapshot of what has been happening in the world of corruption in the last month.

We make no judgment whatsoever as to the morality, legality or appropriateness of the conduct which forms the subject matter of this bulletin. We simply aim to bring these matters to the attention of those involved in the prevention,detectionand investigation of fraud.

UK

Printing

Eastbourne-based Smith & Ouzman, a printing company that provided hundreds of millions of ballot papers for African elections has appeared in court on corruption charges. Two of its directors, an employee and an agent of the company were accused by the Serious Fraud Office of making corrupt payments totalling £414,000 to allegedly influence awards of business contracts in Kenya, Ghana, Somaliland and Mauritania.

James Dean