how to report a fraud

Fran

MORPH3US wrote:

I know that, you know that, but you see reports in the papers of "leaks" getting out and bad stuff happening.

If you do it anonymously then its guaranteed that no-one will ever find out!

M

Also people might think that the info would be passed on, perhaps they don't :eek: trust :eek: the DWP :eek:

Dora_the_Explorer_5

wazza wrote:

this concerns a friends neighbour. the couple split up. the wife took the kids and managed to get a council house. the thing is she has moved back with her husband but still has the council house. according to my friend he has seen her at home for over a month. looks like she has no intention of moving to the council house but has not given it up. how can he report her to the authorities?

i think he would prefer to phone them or write them a letter etc. he has no access to a pc so can't complain online. i have told him i will post this and depending on results he can file online using a pc at the local library

thanks in advance

You, your friend or anyone else can phone the housing department asking if the house is still available to rent as i is still unoccupied. Reasonable enquiry should result in sensible answer. Mind set at rest, civic duty done. Problem solved.

lynn44

I have reported my x husband many many times for fraud while claiming benefits inc DLA 8 years later he still lives in ( brand new) nice council house with all mod con's and brand new MOB CAR. and earning upto £700 pw plastering! (cash) I give up now reporting him. I am not jealous I ended the marriage. Im annoyed I was bringing up HIS 3 children on income support with nothing from him. I have a job now and been with my partner nearly 7 yrs and hold my head high I am honest and HAPPY
but leave this couple alone as other have said its there business...

John_T_5

MORPH3US wrote:

How about we ignore anyone commiting a crime, unless we see a Mafia boss with black trenchcoat and fat cigar doing it, then we can all report them.

Lets just leave the individuals commiting fraud, they aren't doing any harm to anyone :eek:

The point I was making was not that we should ignore benefit fraud by individuals, but that the largest part of it is committed by gangs. The Government rather than tackle large scale fraud focuses it's attention on small fry, it has the population shouting about individuals, while the gangs get away with it.

It makes me angry that some people defraud the benefits agency, but I have also met people who have been caught for minor transgressions that they have been compelled to do due to rising debts and serious difficulty in meeting living costs. It's easy to pick up the phone and report someone, it's not so easy for most to show compassion and ask what might someones reason be for doing this.

I pay taxes, and I would prefer if my Government focused it's attention on the largest part of the problem, instead of using smoke and mirrors to hide the truth from the public, the fact is most people do not realise where the bulk of defrauded funds go, and that suits the Government, it saves them having to make too much of an effort to fix inherrent problems in the benefit system that allow gangs to succeed.

singlehouseholder

Perhaps I'm naive but I find it hard to beleive that would be the case (our current chancellor is not shy about employing extra civil servants)

thanks for that- the current climate within the civil servants is headcount headcount headcount!! He's not shy in sacking them!!

tee_pee_2

personally I would amke the phone call. If the house is empty it is not fair to themany people on the waiting list to miss out, and if she is defrauding why not report it. If the case is genuine it will be dropped and end of story. If she is commiting fraud she will have to pay back what she has had.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

tee_pee wrote:

personally I would amke the phone call. If the house is empty it is not fair to themany people on the waiting list to miss out, and if she is defrauding why not report it. If the case is genuine it will be dropped and end of story. If she is commiting fraud she will have to pay back what she has had.

it's not as easy as that if the so called fraudster gets called into the benefit office and gets interrogated and it's found they are innocent. It's very stressful. I've seen it happen to a close relative of mine, and they were distraught and devasted after the ordeal, and no apologies were offered.
The benefits agency and their informant had been wrong in their assumptions.

Dora_the_Explorer_5

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote:

it's not as easy as that if the so called fraudster gets called into the benefit office and gets interrogated and it's found they are innocent. It's very stressful. I've seen it happen to a close relative of mine, and they were distraught and devasted after the ordeal, and no apologies were offered.
The benefits agency and their informant had been wrong in their assumptions.

Unless I've misread the point, this has nothing to do with benefit fraud. The OP's concern was with a council house that had been allocated to someone and was unoccupied by them. It is unreasonable to assume that everyone who lives in social housing claims benefits.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Dora_the_Explorer wrote:

Unless I've misread the point, this has nothing to do with benefit fraud. The OP's concern was with a council house that had been allocated to someone and was unoccupied by them. It is unreasonable to assume that everyone who lives in social housing claims benefits.

wasn't assuming that. Was just saying that if the person is innocent of leaving a council house empty blah blah it's quite a stressful process to go through if the fraud squad get brought in to investigate.
Maybe the op should try and find out more info before making a call.

Dora_the_Explorer_5

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote:

wasn't assuming that. Was just saying that if the person is innocent of leaving a council house empty blah blah it's quite a stressful process to go through if the fraud squad get brought in to investigate.
Maybe the op should try and find out more info before making a call.

I would imagine the OP has enough suggestions and information from this thread now to pass on to their friend who can act as they wish. Will a council 'fraud squad' be interested in investigating an under occupation when it would appear no fraud has been committed, simply somone not living in the house they were allocated