how to report a fraud

Broken_hearted

I dont live in a glass house, if I did I'd be better off. I'm not perfect but I don't commit fraud.

gregg1

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote:

I have got morals by the way.
But I also am realistic too, and I've never said benefit fraud is a lesser crime. I have said that people should also take into account those members of the public who commit tax fraud of one description or another. Tax fraud is no lesser of a crime either. just because someone works or owns their own business, dosen't give them the right to not disclose second/third incomes ect.. it also does not give them the right to draft in accountants to find ways of avoiding tax either by claiming a car belongs to the company when it clearly does not ect... or putting your company into liquidation, then opening the same company under a different name. This happens far too often, and because it's so under handed, fraudsters very rarely get caught. However, I have noted that the tax office also has a hotline, wonder how often it gets used??

For the record, I do not condone ANY kind of fraud, tax or benefit. I would take issue with your point about the tax fraud hotline not being utilised. I am sure you will find it is used to report a lot of people, there are always reports in the papers of people being taken to court for this kind of fraud. However, we are talking on this thread about benefit fraud, I am guessing that it is one of the biggest frauds and costs the Government (and us) more than any of the others put together. As for cars, again, I think you will find that if someone owns their own business, they can quite legitimately purchase a car and run it through that business for themselves and employees, what on earth is fraudulent about that?

gregg1

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote:

I hope you can put your hand on your heart and say you ain't either/or never have cheating/cheated the tax or benefits, even in a small way that you may not even realize.

i think sometimes it can be a case of people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. And no, this isn't directed at anyone, just saved me opening a new reply.

I am certainly not a hypocrite - I can quite honestly put my hand on my heart and say I have NEVER cheated tax or benefit (and even though I don't know them, I am confident that this also applies to the other members on this site who are expressing their disgust at benefit cheats) - this is what gives us the right to object so strongly about people who do! I have worked all my life and paid a huge amount of tax on those earnings. Why should I sit by and watch while other people try and get hold of that money (and other taxpayers' money) when they have no right to it. What also beggars belief is the fact that some people here seem to think WE are in the wrong for condemming these cheats!.

WHA

Considering that the Govt statistics show that total taxation is the highest ever, it doesn't seem that there is a major problem about tax evasion.

Conversely, the amount spent on the welfare state is also at the highest levels ever, which tends to suggest the country is spending more on the needy (which doesn't sound right when you hear of the homeless, hospital wards closing, old folk dead for weeks before being found, etc), or that benefit fraud is increasing.

The vast majority of the population don't have any way of tax evasion. The lion's share of tax revenues are from PAYE and VAT - as an employee, you have little or no control over your payslips and as a consumer, you have little or no control over whether you pay VAT or not on the goods and services you use.

True, it is possible that some self employed people will not declare all their income or claim relief against expenses that aren't really business related. But what about all those in receipt of benefits and those who are employed, who do "on the side" jobs and don't declare their income.

What about those worse cases of people claiming benefits but working self employed as well, who aren't even registered for self employment and self assessment taxes, so are breaking the law twice! Once for claiming benefits when they're capable of, and actually working, and again for not declaring their income and paying taxes on their earnings.

There is NO moral high ground about any form of illegal activity. Whether it be tax evasion or benefit cheating. They're both as bad as eachother and both just as bad as stealing someone's purse, shop-lifting or robbing a bank. It is theft, pure and simple - forget moral arguments - it's illegal and it needs stamping out!

Tongue

IF anyone is committin FRAUD of ANY KING report them immediately.
STOP these parasites and leeches from their evil activities and shop em !!

John_T_5

I really wish people would take the time to read posts properly and take in the information contained within them before rushing to express their opinion.

No one was saying that benefit fraud is generally acceptable, but there are a few exceptions that until you are in that situation you will never understand. Some people might be less self righteous if the actually found themselves in that situation, I have worked hard all my life and also paid a lot of taxes but have seen the reverse side of the coin through people I know.

The point being made is that the Government is failing in it's reponsibilities to tackle the greatest part of the problem, as long as 'we' are shouting the odds about the smallest part of it the Government is getting off lightly, if you don't appreciate your taxes being squandered demand the Govenment put more effort into the organised gangs side of the issue.

I am sure many people on here know of friends who have defrauded the DSS but you wouldn't dare to complain because they are your friends, but when it's someone you dislike it's easy, most people who report fraud use if to get back at people, not because they are concerned about fraud.

MORPH3US

John_T wrote:

I really wish people would take the time to read posts properly and take in the information contained within them before rushing to express their opinion.

INDEED! :T

John_T wrote:

but there are a few exceptions that until you are in that situation you will never understand.

John_T wrote:

demand the Govenment put more effort into the organised gangs side of the issue.

morpheus wrote:

1. I find it very hard to believe that the government just ignore organised benefit fraud, in preferrance of smaller scale individual fraud - do you have any proof of this? Just because you don't see them doing anything , doesn't mean they aren't!

2. We see the government "demonising the small fry" defrauders in public because they need the public's help to catch those. The public are hardly likely to see a Mafia boss commiting large scale benefit fraud, thats what they have huge investigation teams for.

3. The government MUST promote zero tollerance on benefit fraud starting at the bottom. No-one should be allowed to get away with it no matter what the size of it!! If people are commiting it because they are in debt, thats their own fault, to be horribly blunt, I don't give a crap what their reason is for doing it, its morally wrong, its illegal and they deserve any punishment they get!

M

WHA

John_T wrote:

I am sure many people on here know of friends who have defrauded the DSS but you wouldn't dare to complain because they are your friends, but when it's someone you dislike it's easy, most people who report fraud use if to get back at people, not because they are concerned about fraud.

I think we live in different worlds. I can categorically state that I know of no friends who have broken the law by defrauding the benefits system or any other financial offence. Surely it is for the courts to decide on mitigating circumstances - I have certainly read of court cases where the accused has been treated leniently when they have claimed to have a good reason to commit fraud - and of course it seems the greedy ones are treated more harshly. I really don't see the difference between robbing a bank "because I couldn't afford the kid's toys" or committing benefit fraud for the same reason. Saying it is OK is like saying that shoplifting is OK - it isn't it's still theft.

Tongue

SHOP all known instances of any kind of FRAUD and THEFT and DECEPTION because IF you don't the poeple who are employed to look into these cases will be out of work and start claiming state benefits too then the cash in the kitty will run out.
IF their are NO RECIEVERS then there are NO THIEVES!

John_T_5

So what you really mean is you don't like people who receive benefits.