Hidden in plain sight: manual checks leave UK high streets exposed, warns SmartSearch
Commenting on ‘Hidden in plain sight’ – a new report from Trading Standards which found that as many as half of convenience stores and vape retailers in some areas and a third of American candy stores are estimated to have links with organised crime, Phil Cotter, CEO at leading anti-fraud experts SmartSearch says it has never been more important for businesses to adopt robust digital identity verification and anti-money laundering checks to prevent criminal enterprises infiltrating legitimate supply chains.
Phil Cotter, CEO of SmartSearch said: “Trading Standards’ research shows organised crime is hiding in plain sight on our high streets. Our own compliance report 2026 revealed that 54% of businesses still verify identities manually, creating the exact verification gap that allows criminal fronts to establish seemingly legitimate business relationships.
“When criminals use AI-generated identities and shell company structures, manual document checks can’t keep pace. The professional service firms who might unknowingly serve these fronts aren’t being negligent; they lack the tools to detect them. But this isn’t just about business statistics. These fronts enable human trafficking, trafficking of goods and serious harm to the communities where these shops operate.
“When businesses can detect fake identities before onboarding criminal clients, we stop criminals at the gate and free enforcement agencies to focus on investigating actual criminals rather than processing unwitting facilitators.
“Trading Standards is right that enforcement needs investment, with our report also highlighting that 72% of compliance professionals expect regulation to become more complex across all sectors. Without the right solutions, businesses will continue to struggle to verify beneficial ownership instantly and flag red flags that manual processes miss.”
