Shock as Bury Hospice loses £235k in cyber fraud

The online crooks plundered hospice bank accounts following an elaborate hoax involving an online virus check.

Bury Hospice chairman Prof Eileen Fairhurst said: “We are shocked and sickened that fraudsters would target hospices and other charities.

“It is beneath contempt when you think how this money was raised by hard-working volunteers and kind benefactors – and what it is needed for.”

The hospice is now carrying out a full investigation and keeping in close contact with its bank.

Prof Fairhurst said: “Our own protection systems are now subject to extensive review.

“The police and the Charity Commission have been informed.

“There will be no immediate impact on the running of Bury Hospice and we will continue to provide an excellent service to those in the Bury community who need us.”

Prof Fairhurst said all avenues are now being explored to recover the money and the matter is being investigated by the police national fraud investigation team.

Other charities in the Greater Manchester area have also been targeted in a similar way and some have also suffered financial loss.

And hospices in other parts of the UK have also been victims of online theft.

The news is a further blow to the hospice after a turbulent few years during which some people are believed to have lost confidence in the charity and fundraising became difficult.

In March, the former chief executive of the hospice, Jacqui Comber, won a claim of unfair dismissal and could be in line for a payout of up to £72,000.

However, the hospice in Rochdale Old Road recently celebrated the start of a new era after it was given a ‘good’ rating by the Care Quality Commission following its latest inspection.

But despite the hope of a fresh start, the fraud comes at a time when Bury Hospice can only afford to keep open six of its 12 available beds.

Fundraiser Ann Birch, former chairman of the Ramsbottom support group for the hospice, said: “I am absolutely horrified.

“We have had it bad enough, this on top is just dreadful.

“We have all been trying to raise as much money as possible for the hospice.

“I am sure everybody involved with fundraising will be very shocked.

“It is hard work raising money these days, because there are a lot of different charities and people don’t have that much money.

“We were really just getting on top of things, so that is really bad news.

“It costs so much every day to keep that place going, it is devastating.

“But hopefully now people will all get together and try to reimburse it, but that is a lot of money to replace.”

Sgt Simon Ward, from Bury police, works across the borough raising awareness about and tackling cyber crime.

He said: “The fraudsters don’t care who they affect or the impact that their actions might have on people.

“It can be very lucrative work for them and it is usually well-organised.

“It is not the old style criminal who will turn their hand to anything.

“This kind of cybercrime can be used to fund even more serious crimes such as terrorism, so it is a national threat.”

“Once the money has been taken, it is very difficult to get back.”

Sgt Ward and his team will be visiting business, banks and charities in the coming weeks to advise on how best prevent online fraud and cybercrime.

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime where people should report fraud if they believe they have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime.

For more information, visit: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk