Communications data aids fraud investigations

HMRC made 18 464 requests to access communications data such as telephone records and web browsing histories to aid its criminal investigations last year up from 18 263 the previous year according to the 2019 annual report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner.

City-headquartered law firm RPC explained that the Revenue may request phone records from telecoms networks to aid it in its investigations into suspected furlough fraud. It could examine the phone records of an employer to determine whether it has been making phone calls to an employee during the period when they were supposedly on furlough. A high number of calls might indicate the employee was working and the furlough claims were fraudulent.

HMRC can request data held by telecoms operators including the time duration and location of a call as well as the number dialled. It can also request a list of websites...