REPORTED fraud across Yorkshire and the North East has rocketed six-fold, said a report today.

The region has the highest level of reported fraud outside London – with £330m in the past 12 months compared to £51m for 2010.

That compares with £260m of reported fraud in the Midlands and £94m in the North West.

The BDO Fraud Track report pinpoints 38 fraud cases from Yorkshire in 2011 – with 26 originating in West Yorkshire.

Cases reported include a £6m investment scam that targeted British expatriates living in Mallorca and a Doncaster-based car scam valued at £2.5m.

Across the UK, the value of reported fraud exceeded £2bn last year – an increase of almost 50% from 2010’s £1.4bn.