Cifas Markers And How To Challenge Them

With a growing number of financial institutions reporting people to a Cifas anti-fraud database, BCL's Andrew Watson explains what to do if you find yourself the innocent subject of a Cifas marker.

Cifas is an increasingly prominent feature in the battle against fraud. With a growing membership, and claiming to have prevented financial loss running to several billion pounds, it is unsurprising that many individuals and companies are finding themselves the subject of, or threatened with, a referral to Cifas. The consequences of a referral, however, can be severe; the worst-case scenario being a so-called ‘Cifas marker', lasting up to six years. But with no straightforward redress route via Cifas itself, any representations should initially be addressed to the member that made the referral in the first place. Navigating this process can be tricky, though, and pitfalls await the unwary.