Paradigm Mortgage Services has announced a new partnership with Unity Financial Crime Services (FCS) to help its member firms secure bespoke mortgage financial crime risk training, guidance and support.

Unity FCS provides a range of services to advisory firms and individuals to help them understand, and mitigate, against the risks that come with financial crime.

Its aim is to help firms keep safe, avoid serious issues and consequences, protect their reputation, and support the growth and success of the business.

Headed by Sally Waddingham, who has over 30 years of expertise and knowledge helping firms within the mortgage and lending sector protect themselves against financial crime, Unity FCS offer bespoke and flexible training and support with the aim of:

• Reducing the risk of regulatory and legal censure, fines and prosecution.
• Avoiding lender panel issues and removals.
• Improving mortgage financial crime risk, knowledge, skills and awareness.
• Managing and mitigating financial crime risks more effectively and efficiently.
• Improving business quality and strengthening trust and relationships across all partnerships.
• Implementing adequate controls and processes to avoid being the target of fraudsters.

Unity FCS has designed bespoke and interactive training and support programmes for individuals and firms using a variety of delivery methods, including online webinars, virtual training, and face-to-face workshops.

The training and services offered are affordable to individuals and firms of all sizes and Paradigm member firms will benefit from a 10% discount on all services provided to them by Unity FCS.

Christine Newell, mortgages technical director at Paradigm Mortgage Services, said: “Advisory firms, particularly those active in the mortgage market, will be acutely aware of the potential risk they face from criminals, particularly given the significant amounts of money that are often involved in mortgage finance. Mortgage fraud needs to be fought against and firms need to ensure they have everything in place to ensure neither they, or their clients, become victims.

“Sally has already spoken to our member firms at a number of our webinars, and it’s been clear from the feedback received that there is a genuine interest in, and need for, training, support and guidance in this area. We are therefore very pleased to be announcing this new partnership with Unity FCS providing Paradigm members with access to this excellent, and much-needed, proposition.”

Waddingham, Principal at Unity FCS, added: “Lenders report mortgage fraud is increasing, partly due to the backdrop of a challenging property market, with financially-stretched mortgage clients struggling to meet lenders’ criteria and turning to fraud to secure a mortgage. In addition, criminals are exploiting vulnerable individuals, by facilitating fraud acts, or working within organised crime groups for lucrative financial gains.

“Mortgage advisers must therefore stay vigilant and ensure they understand the many varied and emerging types of fraud, to ensure they are not unwittingly used as a conduit to pass fraudulent business to lenders and find themselves removed from panel, or facing regulatory and legal censure. Education can greatly reduce these risks by improving understanding around fraud indicators, checks and due diligence and implementing adequate controls and processes to mitigate and reduce fraudulent activity.

“I am delighted to partner with Paradigm Mortgage Services and encourage members to proactively benefit from our training and support, which will help you stay safe, reduce the risk of serious issues arising and ensure you continue to grow a successful business.”