--- title: What a former British MP can teach us about payments fraud url: https://www.medius.com/blog/what-a-former-british-mp-can-teach-us-about-payments-fraud/ updated: 2025-03-07T06:02:33Z --- [Back to Blog](https://www.medius.com/blog/) Accounts Payable 3.30.2023 # What a former British MP can teach us about payments fraud | Medius Businesses and organizations globally are experiencing increasing payment frauds. One case that hit the headlines in the UK was that of former Labour MP, Jared O’Mara, who has been accused of totalling £52,000 ($63,521.12) in invoice fraud. ## How does a former public servant end up committing invoice fraud? It’s an unusual case, a former public servant falling into debt at the hands of his drug dealers - but doesn’t take away the fact that those organizations who have inadequate vetting processes can facilitate a loophole for criminals to set up illegitimate vendors. This can lead to invoice fraud, and significant losses to a business. ### How common is invoice fraud? Setting up [illegitimate vendors](https://www.medius.com/glossary/invoice-fraud-guide-to-prevention-detection/ "Invoice Fraud: Guide to Prevention & Detection") is a common way to commit invoice fraud, simply because it’s easy for criminals to do, and because checks are rarely carried out to determine the legitimacy of invoice inbounds. Another key take-away from this case is that fraudsters don’t necessarily operate from outside a business. Nor do they necessarily target unfamiliar organizations. In fact, once the inside trader sets up the fake supplier in the business system, they can submit invoices that are low cost enough to be approved quickly, without triggering the need for additional approval checks. Any business or organization with known “prick-points”, or lacking in robust payment systems is potentially at a heightened risk of being [defrauded by employees](https://www.medius.com/blog/occupational-fraud-is-on-the-rise/ "Occupational fraud is on the rise") who understand workplace processes. This can also encourage employees to commit fraud on multiple occasions too. **To combat this, businesses can adopt AP automation solutions which enable them to a** **pply invoice tools. Often powered by AI, these tools can flag irregular and unauthorized activity across the payments chain.** A recent global survey of senior finance executives found that the average UK organization catches an average of around 15 fraudulent cases a year.  The data confirms that invoice fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK. What’s most concerning is that 20% of finance teams are unable to estimate what invoice fraud costs their business, with an average of [£295,000 ($360,397.66) losses](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medius-invoice-fraud-costs-the-average-uk-business-295-000-a-year-as-finance-professionals-struggle-to-keep-up-301641509.html)to UK business annually. ### What can be done about invoice fraud? However, the good news is that today, many organizations have access to smart technology, including [digital invoice solutions](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-accounts-payable-automation/ "Medius Accounts Payable Automation") which enable them to automate and centralize approval processes. To learn more about e-Invoicing, [click here](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-accounts-payable-automation/einvoicing/). This can not only enhance end-to-end transparency within the payments chain, with organizations able to see in real-time where money is flowing in and out, but can also flag any irregular and anomaly behavior through [artificial intelligence](https://www.medius.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-rpa-ai-in-accounts-payable/ "What are the benefits of RPA & AI in Accounts Payable?"). This technology helps mitigate the risk of fraud with real-time data and communication, and anomaly detection which both work in unison to reduce attacks. Fraud shouldn’t be looked at through the prism of organizations that are unnecessarily paying out. If an MP can commit invoice fraud in the tens of thousands to fund an addictive habit, then it is safe to say that payments fraud has far-reaching negative effects that extend beyond the workplace - permeating the economy, and society as a whole. **Get ready for AP automation with six simple steps.** The cost and effort to automate accounts payable are minimal compared to most digital transformation projects, and the benefits are nearly immediate for the *entire* organization. The decision to automate AP should be a no-brainer, but where do you start? Follow the six steps in our Buyer’s Guide to AP Automation Solutions to build a solid business case that illustrates how you can help your business save time and money, reduce fraud and risk, increase visibility to data and cash flow, and more. ![woman and checklist line art](https://www.medius.com/media/mtmc2e2z/checklist_pen_woman_lineart_fire.png) [Get the Guide Now](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/buyers-guide-to-ap-automation-solutions/ "buyers guide to AP automation solutions") #### Medius Financial Census 2026 87% of finance pros have ignored suspected fraud. That's just one finding. See what 2,386 finance leaders revealed about fraud, late payments, AI, and the profession's future. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/medius-financial-census-2026/ "Medius Financial Census 2026") #### Ardent Partners' State of AP in 2026 AI is changing what AP teams can do, and fast. Get leading analysts at Ardent Partners' take on where the industry is headed. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/ardent-partners-state-of-ap/ "Ardent Partners State of AP") #### Webinar: Preparing for agentic AI in AP In this webinar with SSON, see how leading finance teams are moving from automation to autonomous AP, with real governance built in. [Watch the webinar](https://www.medius.com/resources/events-and-webinars/through-trust-and-governance-sson/ "Through trust and governance SSON") #### Discover accounts payable benchmarks Learn the efficiency metrics that matter for AP teams and the benchmarks derived from thousands of Medius customers around the globe. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/ap-benchmark-report/ "AP Benchmark Report") #### Questions about AP automation? Let's talk through it. A 30-minute conversation with a Medius expert costs you nothing and might save you a lot. Book a consult ## Related Posts [8.26.2026 Accounts Payable Best AP automation software features](https://www.medius.com/blog/best-ap-automation-software-features/) [8.24.2026 AP Automation Why legacy AP systems hold back finance transformation](https://www.medius.com/blog/why-legacy-ap-systems-hold-back-finance-transformation/) [8.18.2026 AP Automation Best AP automation software for food and beverage](https://www.medius.com/blog/best-ap-automation-software-for-food-and-beverage/) [8.17.2026 Accounts Payable 5 AI-powered tactics for touchless accounts payable](https://www.medius.com/blog/five-tactics-for-peace-of-mind-touchless-accounts-payable/) [!\[focused business woman looking at computer\](https://www.medius.com/media/exkdu0tm/adobestock_126291778-red.jpg?width=340&height=245&v=1d99261d24b3f10) 8.13.2026 AP Automation The AP metrics CFOs review first when evaluating finance operations](https://www.medius.com/blog/the-ap-metrics-cfos-review-first-when-evaluating-finance-operations/) [8.12.2026 Integration Choosing the best AP automation platform for complex ERP environments](https://www.medius.com/blog/choosing-the-best-ap-automation-platform-for-complex-erp-environments/) Previous Next [View All Posts](https://www.medius.com/blog/) ## Ready to transform your AP? [Book a Demo](https://www.medius.com/book-a-demo/ "Book a Demo") [Contact Us](https://www.medius.com/contact-us/ "Contact Us")