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<\/p>\nThe local authority is hitting back by using the technology itself to prevent attacks and scams<\/p>\n
Fraudsters using AI are a growing threat to South Gloucestershire Council<\/p>\n
Fraudsters using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are a growing threat to South Gloucestershire<\/a> Council\u2019s finances and security, it has been revealed.<\/p>\n The local authority is hitting back by using the technology itself to prevent attacks and scams but is \u2018slow to keep pace with risk\u2019, a council meeting heard.<\/p>\n An annual counter-fraud report<\/a> said a major initiative led by the government\u2019s cabinet office to match suspicious activity with data held by South Gloucestershire Council<\/a> unearthed a total of \u00a3479,183 that the organisation recovered in 2025\/26.<\/p>\n The vast majority of this \u2013 \u00a3437,468 \u2013 was from households claiming council tax single person discount on the basis they lived alone but where the electoral register showed more than one adult there.<\/p>\n Head of internal audit and risk Justine Poulton told the audit and accounts committee that fraud was still a big risk for the organisation, although while the number of cases had doubled in the past six years, the average value of each one had halved.<\/p>\n She told the meeting: \u201cAI-enabled fraud is becoming more prevalent, with fake identities.\u201d<\/p>\n Cllr Ben Burton (Conservative, Frenchay & Downend) said: \u201cThe report looks at AI from a negative perspective in terms of increasing potential activity and then, more concerningly, is the fact that councils are slow to adopt the technology of AI to counter that threat.\u201d<\/p>\n He asked whether the council could team up with other local authorities to invest in AI collectively to combat the danger.<\/p>\n Ms Poulton replied that AI use across local government bodies was doubling almost monthly.<\/p>\n Finance director Joss Convey said AI was used to look at overall matching information but that this was then followed up by officers on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n She said council tax and business rates collection statistics remained \u2018pretty solid\u2019 as the team was a keen adopter of AI and data management technology.<\/p>\n The report to the committee on Tuesday, March 31, highlighted two emerging threats \u2013 identity fraud and account takeovers, driven by digital service expansion and weak verification controls, and AI-enabled fraud involving fake identities, forged documents, and circumvention of verification systems.<\/p>\n It said: \u201cLocal authority capability in harnessing AI to support counter-fraud investigations is slow to keep pace with risk.\u201d<\/p>\n The report said two cases of fraud by South Gloucestershire Council staff were proved in the last 12 months.<\/p>\n The first was a former employee who was moonlighting in four different jobs by multiple local authorities and failed to disclose them, submitting false timesheets representing the hours worked for each organisation \u2013 claiming a total of \u00a3236,000.<\/p>\n They are not named, but this was Bryn Howells<\/a>, 66, of Stroud, who was jailed at Gloucester Crown Court for three years<\/a> last August for working for Tewkesbury Borough Council and Publica Group, which provides services for three district councils, as well as South Gloucestershire.<\/p>\n A fourth job was not included in the charges.<\/p>\n The second ex-member of staff had two employments that overlapped and was subject to HR investigation and dismissal, the report said.<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone<\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_WhatsApp-Phone.jpg\")
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