URGENT ADVICE RE Tax Credits Fraud

carolannjo

Hi my father in law got a letter several weeks ago from the inland revenue saying that he had been the victim of an attempted identity theft, someone had tried to claim tax credits using his national insurance number. How they got this I have no idea as he uses cash all the time, doesn't have any credit cards, loans or mortgage AND throws nothing out keeps it all in the house!!! Anyway today he gets a letter again from the inland revenue saying they want £1000 of over paid tax credits back ASAP or they will instigate court proceedings. Now my FinL has never claimed for or been paid this and we can only assume it has something to do with the identity theft. Does anyone know what we should do, he is elderly and not happy phoning people as he gets confused. Any advice greatfully received.

Bossyboots

If you can call them for him in his presence, he can authorise them to deal with you there and then and they can speak to you.

Ultimately, they will need to prove he had the money which must have gone into a traceable bank account.

Remember, they have a lot of this and until you contact them and let them know the position they have to deal with the situation as they see it.

It is odd that they should demand repayments after having indicated someone had tried identity theft but maybe this is two departments not communicating.

Get onto them as quickly as possible as I have described to start the ball rolling.

Let us know what they say, particularly if you need some more help.

missk_ensington

This happened to my Mum, in fact they were actually successful and managed to take £900 from her bank account. It turned out that tax credits had given out information without making the neccessary identity checks! She complained and got £100 compensation from them, as well as an apology.

I wouldn't worry, they can trace whose account these alleged monies were paid into, which will a bank account in your Father in laws name. This will be investigated further- when was the account opened? what ID was used to open the account? Then any transactions. If the fraudster has been in a branch they will check the CCTV around the cash point/banks where withdrawals ahve been made.

It goes without saying, warn his bank and everyone about what has happened!

carolannjo

We have just called and got an "oh dear don't worry, we will pass it on to the relevant department! Someone should be in touch in two or three weeks" My FinL was not happy with this but we are not sure how to continue and who to phone!!
Thanks for prompt response.

missk_ensington

You just called who? I'd phone tax credits and ask to speak to someone in a mangerial position. Don't be all nicey nicey, you have to lay the law down and put some guilt- say your FIL's ill and its making him worse.

I would maybe get onto Crown Prosecution Service and ask for advice, or Google fraud and see what you can find. You need someone to investigate how this person has done it

carolannjo

Sorry phoned the number on the letter which was for tax office in Cumbernauld, they were quite frankly useless

Bossyboots

missk_ensington wrote:

You just called who? I'd phone tax credits and ask to speak to someone in a mangerial position. Don't be all nicey nicey, you have to lay the law down and put some guilt- say your FIL's ill and its making him worse.

I would maybe get onto Crown Prosecution Service and ask for advice, or Google fraud and see what you can find. You need someone to investigate how this person has done it

This has nothing to do with the Crown Prosecution Service for goodness sake. Your advice was good up to this point.

It is for the HMRC to deal with the fraud aspect as it is they who have been victim and sustained a loss. The OP's FIL needs his accounts checked thoroughly to ensure that this money has not been going through a legitimate account of his. If it has, then that bank needs to be notified urgently of the position. Otherwise, HMRC will, as you have said, need to check out the actual account used.

missk_ensington

Well the CPS deals with other types of theft why is this different? If you leave it to the civil service nothing will get done, stealing identity and stealing money by it is surely a police matter and needs police investigation??

Just take solace in the fact anything other than cash is traceable!

carolannjo

Hi guys, FinL now gone to a funeral so will need to wait prob till Monday. Have decided to ask them when and how this money was paid into which account etc. We did check with the bank when original letter came in to see if any thing irregular had been happening but everything checked out fine. Cannot believe that they can do this and to an old man the swines!!!
We do not have CPS in scotland as such and police say that as it is inland revenue who have been defrauded up to them to complain.
Have been busy since my last post!!

CIS

If you leave it to the civil service nothing will get done,

The CPS are civil servants!!

missk_ensington

You know what I mean, the tax credits are the slowest people on the face of the planet closely followed by the CSA!