Types of CIFAS Markers
There are several types of CIFAS marker, each covering a different category of alleged fraud. This guide breaks down every marker type so you can identify which one applies to your situation and understand what it means.
Types of CIFAS Markers
There are several types of CIFAS marker, each covering a different category of alleged fraud. This guide breaks down every marker type so you can identify which one applies to your situation and understand what it means.
The six CIFAS marker categories
CIFAS markers are categorised into six main types, each covering a different form of alleged fraud or financial crime. Understanding which type has been applied to your record is essential because each requires a different complaint approach.
Misuse of Facility (MOF)
The most commonly filed marker, with over 51,000 cases recorded on the NFD. Misuse of Facility means the organisation believes your own account or facility was used in suspicious or fraudulent activity — such as receiving or moving suspicious funds. Common scenarios include money muling allegations, receiving proceeds of fraud, and account activity flagged by automated systems.
Challenge focus: Was there genuine dishonesty? Were you coerced, deceived, or vulnerable? Is this actually a civil dispute rather than fraud?
False Application (FA)
Filed when an organisation believes false information or documents were used in an application for a financial product. Common triggers include income misrepresentation, document alteration, and third-party submissions. Around 8,500 cases are recorded annually.
Challenge focus: Was the information actually accurate? Did a broker or third party submit false information without your knowledge?
Facility Takeover (FT)
Filed when an account or facility was taken over by someone without proper authority. With over 38,000 cases annually, this is the second most common type. SIM swaps, phishing, and social engineering are common causes. Critically, victims are sometimes incorrectly marked as suspects.
Challenge focus: Are you the victim, not the perpetrator? Was the marker filed against you in error? Did you report the compromise promptly?
Identity Fraud (IF)
The highest-volume category on the NFD with over 118,000 cases, though most are correctly filed against fraudsters. Problems arise when victims of identity theft are incorrectly marked — which happens when institutions misfile the marker against the victim instead of recording them correctly.
Challenge focus: Were you the identity theft victim? Was the marker misfiled against you? Do you have a police or Action Fraud report?
Asset Conversion (AC)
A lower-volume category (around 350 cases annually) involving financed or leased goods being sold, retained, or not returned. Common contexts include vehicle finance disputes, goods retention, and lease defaults. Many of these are actually civil disputes that should not carry fraud markers.
Challenge focus: Is this a civil/commercial dispute rather than fraud? Were goods returned or offered back? Did you believe you were entitled to act as you did?
False Insurance Claim (FIC)
Filed when an insurer believes a claim involved material falsehood, exaggeration, or false supporting information. Around 420 cases annually, but growing at 60% year-on-year. The distinction between honest error and deliberate fraud is often blurred.
Challenge focus: Was this exaggeration or fabrication? Was the issue misunderstanding rather than dishonesty? What evidence has the insurer provided?
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