Fraud
Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation
The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI) is a specialist agency that investigates fraud-related crime involving complex issues of criminal law or procedure.
The Bureau was established in April 1995 and is based at Harcourt Square, Dublin 2.
It is headed by a Chief Superintendent who reports to the Assistant Commissioner in charge of National Support Services.
The GBFI investigates serious and complex cases of commercial fraud, cheque and credit card fraud, counterfeit currency, money laundering, computer crime and breaches of the Companies Acts and the Competition Act
How does the GBFI decide to accept a case?
For the GBFI to accept a case it needs to be satisfied that the suspected fraud is particularly serious or complex. It does not – and could not – take on every referred case of suspected fraud. Resources must be and are focused on major and complex fraud.
The criteria which support a decision in this context include:-
- Amount of money defrauded or at risk
- Whether there is a significant international dimension
- If the case is likely to be of widespread public concern
- If the case requires highly specialised knowledge e.g. of financial markets
- If complex issues of law or procedure apply and the geographical spread of the investigation
Other functions include:-
- The gathering of information and intelligence
- Acting as a resource centre on fraud-related matters
- Generally playing a pro-active role in the prevention and detection of fraud
The Bureau's proactive prevention fraud-prevention policy involves regular partnership with our stakeholders in the business community, financial institutions, professional bodies, educational institutions and the general public.
Sections in the GBFI
- Assessment Unit
- Commercial Fraud Unit
- Money Laundering Investigation Units
- Cheque, Payment Card, Counterfeit Currency and Advance Fee Fraud Investigation Unit
- Computer Crime Units
- Financial Intelligence Unit
GBFI can be contacted at:-
Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation
Harcourt Square
Harcourt Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6663766
Fax: +353 1 6663798