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Who We Are

The London Fraud Team Ltd (LFT Ltd), with its fraud investigation and litigation team, is available to assist clients in the fight against business fraud. The team comprises certified accountants, investigative lawyers, members of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and former law enforcement professionals. They are supported by fraud investigators, computer forensic specialists and crime scene examiners.

The London Fraud Team was formed by a former career detective from Scotland Yard's Fraud Squad and the Serious Fraud Office who, prior to leaving, worked as a Fraud Intelligence Officer. A Graduate in Business Studies from Kingston University, and the holder of a Graduate Diploma in AML from Manchester University Business School and the International Compliance Association, he brings a high level of expertise to the work environment.

The Commercial Team is managed by a former Senior Manager and Director in the Insurance industry and consists of:

  1. An experienced Forensic Accountant
  2. An investigative lawyer
  3. A computer forensic team
  4. Specialist researchers.

The business has developed over the past from a fraud and operational risk consultancy to one that now concentrates on providing business intelligence to international clients. Many of those clients are household names.

Our strengths not only rest in a strong in-house team with extensive resources, but with a network of affiliates and business partners around the world who can provide added value to our work product. Those international partners have been long-standing within our business relationship. Their own capabilities have been tested on many occasions and found to meet the high standard required by our company.

Commercial life today is complex and diverse with many variations determined by the industry sector. Fraud and general investigation work requires a new breed of investigator. Their skill set is paramount.

Choosing the investigator and/or the appropriate investigation company (the chicken and egg syndrome).

Think of this......

If you had a leaking water pipe at home would you call an electrician - of course not, you would call a plumber.

If you had a fraud or serious crime to investigate who would you call? Well, fraud is a crime and oddly enough is committed by criminals. These days many wear suits. Remember detectives investigate crime. Not someone who is ex-military or a revenue collector or an investigator from a non-crime group. But a former detective.

But that choice needs to be further refined. There is a sliding scale; county detectives, town or city detectives those who have specialist training and experience (perhaps a specialist in robbery or illegal immigration - perhaps not).

For fraud and serious crime try Scotland Yard´s Fraud Squad and/or the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). That is where most of our investigators come from. Their profiles will include complex cases and the management thereof. They will be used to high profile, international work using networks and contacts in closed user groups where trust has been built up over many years. All will add value to your enquiry.

Also, when comparing us with other investigation companies note that we do not name our team or show photographs of them. Our policy is that all our team, especially management, must have regular ´hands on experience´ in investigations and it is too dangerous to publicise their identities. For those companies that do identify their team, well, does it not raise questions in your mind...?

Look also at our management profiles, memberships, and areas of operation. We feel we can assist with most types of cases, and if we cannot then we will tell you. Our reputation is too important to lose trying something we cannot handle.

The London Fraud Team, whilst a limited liability company, operates as a trading name of Howells Shepherd International Limited.

Memberships

Detailed below is a list of the various professional bodies and associations to which the company and/or its senior management team belong. Membership provides us with a range of benefits which we in turn can pass onto you, the client, by way of added value.

  1. Academic and operational resources
  2. Up to date knowledge of a given industry
  3. Networking with our peers
  4. Standards of behaviour
  5. Access to 'closed user' groups
  6. Access to proprietary databases

Membership of the following is by either educational qualification, invitation or through various forms of personal recommendation and vetting.

For each we have given a brief summary of what they represent. We have also added a link to each of the web sites should you wish to know more about them and the benefits we receive.

1. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)

An international organization for certified fraud examiners open to those with a proven background in fraud investigation work.

2. The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)

A global organization of individuals who specialize in anti money laundering work. www.acams.org

3. The International Compliance Association (ICA)

A global organization of individuals who work in the compliance industry. Membership only through graduate examination.

4. The International Pen & Sword Association (IPSA)

An exclusive networking group of serving and former detectives who have served on a UK fraud squad or similar international body (e.g. FBI White Collar Crime Unit a.k.a. Economic Crime Unit).

5. The Fraud Advisory Panel

An independent body of volunteers drawn from various professional, regulatory and government bodies to raise awareness of the immense social and economic damage that is caused by fraud. www.fraudadvisorypanel.org

6. Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP)

Assists members in enhancing their´firm's´competitiveness through a greater understanding of competitor behaviour and future strategies as well as the market dynamics in which they do business. A world-wide group of some 15,000 CI professionals exchanging techniques and skills from data gathering and database management to analysis and strategy development. www.scip.org

7. The International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA)

For past and present intelligence analysts from law enforcement world-wide to keep at the leading edge of their industry and to network with their peers. www.ialeia.org

8. Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)

The insurance industries professional body, with some 70,000 members. Entrance by way of professional qualification providing members with an array of support services. www.cii.co.uk

9. The Chartered Insurance Institute Faculty of Claims

Part of the CII for those that specialize in insurance claims handling and investigation work.

10. The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

The professional body for those who have graduated in the marketing arena. Provides a host of information, advice and support services to members. www.cim.co.uk

11. World Association of Detectives (WAD)

Probably the main body for hands on investigators world-wide. www.wad.net

12. Ex Police in Industry & Commerce (EPIC)

Exclusive membership to former police officers to assist each other in exchanges of information regarding security in industry and commerce. www.epic-uk.com

13. The Association of Ex CID Officers of the Metropolitan Police (´The Ex Tecs Association´)

A ´closed network´ of former Scotland Yard and London detectives designed to keep former colleagues in touch be they in industry posts or otherwise.

14. The Association of British Investigators

An association of those engaged in investigation work around the UK.

15. The City of London Crime Prevention Association

A partnership association between the City of London Police, the City Corporation and the City business community designed to assist members in areas of crime reduction in whatever form e.g. terrorism, business or local crime etc.

16. Institute of Money Laundering Prevention Officers (IMLPO)

IMLPO is the only UK organization for anti money laundering professionals whose memberships comprises representatives of around 20 different sectors affected by the anti money laundering (AML) legislation. www.imlpo.com

We feel that membership of these organisations demonstrate that in addition to our own personal contacts in various bodies and industries we also have the additional resources above to assist us, and you, achieve a better work product.