The vulnerability of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs to penetration by criminal actors

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider whether HM Revenue & Customs systems are vulnerable to penetration by organized criminals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a review of available material published in hard copy and on the internet.

Findings

The paper finds that HM Revenue & Customs systems are vulnerable to penetration by organized criminals in a number of ways. Theft by employees, fraud perpetrated by external criminals and money laundering are particular vulnerabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is an invite to the House of Commons Public Accounts or Treasury Select Committee to investigate HM Revenue & Customs' vulnerability to penetration by organized criminals.

Social implications

The paper identifies the need to reduce monies lost by HM Treasury.

Originality/value

This is the first study, to the author's knowledge, of a holistic approach to the issue of HM Revenue & Customs systems' vulnerablity to penetration by organized criminals.

Citation

Fisher, J. (2012), "The vulnerability of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs to penetration by criminal actors", Journal of Money Laundering Control, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201211218153