Overview

This bill creates a new criminal offence: impersonating a UK public sector website to obtain payments or personal data. It aims to protect citizens from online scams targeting government services.

Description

This bill establishes a criminal offense for impersonating a UK public sector website to collect payments or personal data. This applies to websites falsely representing central government, regional, local, or other public authorities; bodies governed by public law; or public undertakings in the UK.

Penalties

Individuals convicted face fines. The court will consider any financial gains made from the crime when determining the fine amount. In England and Wales, the penalty is a fine, while in Scotland and Northern Ireland it’s a fine up to the statutory maximum.

Guidance

The Secretary of State can issue guidance on identifying genuine public sector websites.

Implementation

The Act extends to all four nations of the UK and will come into force 90 days after passing.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. The costs will likely relate to enforcement (police investigations, prosecutions) and potentially the creation and dissemination of public awareness campaigns. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Citizens: Protected from online scams and fraud targeting government services.
• Criminals: Face prosecution and fines for impersonating public sector websites for financial gain or data theft.
• Law enforcement agencies: Responsible for investigating and prosecuting offenders under this new law.
• Public sector organizations: May benefit from reduced fraud and increased public trust. They also might need to adapt their website security practices.

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