multi benefit investigations department

poet123

Has anyone heard of this department? A family member has had a visit from someone purporting to be from this dept. They said they were an independent audit dept engaged by the DWP to randomly sample claimants.

My family member is very vulnerable and although the caller had an appointment, and showed ID, to me ( from what I have been told of the questions she asked) she seemed to have little or no knowledge of the claim nor the payment methods. This was she said due to Data protection issues. She asked for, and was given the bank account details. She said no further contact would be made and that it was a purely random visit.

I will be contacting the local office tomorrow (visit was late this afternnoon and I have only just been informed) but I wondered if this had happened to anyone else and was legit.

viktory

Personally, I would have called the office before offering any personal details. Still, too late now. I am assuming the appointment was made via letter, on headed paper?

poet123

viktory wrote: »

Personally, I would have called the office before offering any personal details. Still, too late now. I am assuming the appointment was made via letter, on headed paper?

Apparently, but as the family member is suffering form acute MH issues I cant be sure how authentic the letter was. With regard to ID tbh any form of photo ID would probably have satisfied her. I have just never heard of this dept, and I did work for the DWP years ago, but obviously names change, but it was the seeming lack of info the woman had which is ringing alarm bells.

Duncombe

poet123 wrote: »

Has anyone heard of this department? A family member has had a visit from someone purporting to be from this dept. They said they were an independent audit dept engaged by the DWP to randomly sample claimants.

My family member is very vulnerable and although the caller had an appointment, and showed ID, to me ( from what I have been told of the questions she asked) she seemed to have little or no knowledge of the claim nor the payment methods. This was she said due to Data protection issues. She asked for, and was given the bank account details. She said no further contact would be made and that it was a purely random visit.

I will be contacting the local office tomorrow (visit was late this afternnoon and I have only just been informed) but I wondered if this had happened to anyone else and was legit.

I have never heard of them, although that doesn't meant they don't exist. Google doesn't seem to be able to provide any information as to who this department might be either.

However. I would be more than mildly concerned if somebody came to my house, asked for my bank details then told me they wouldn't be contacting me again. Suspicious? Just a little.

Add to this, the fact the individual knew nothing about my claim or payment methods and this was due to data protection issues. I'd be wondered why she was there in the first place?

I understand you say you relative is very vunerable...but surely they should know better than to give our their bank details to..well, strangers?!

real1314

I think that this sort of thing does exist. From my knowledge it would be a DWP employee (rather than Jobcentre Plus or Pension Service).

It was certainly common practice that all visiting staff would carry an ID card which would have a contact number for verification by the customer. Contacting the local office that deals with your benefits is also an option.

Also, a genuine caller should never refuse to allow checks to be made and to return if necessary at a later date.

poet123

Duncombe wrote: »

I have never heard of them, although that doesn't meant they don't exist. Google doesn't seem to be able to provide any information as to who this department might be either.

However. I would be more than mildly concerned if somebody came to my house, asked for my bank details then told me they wouldn't be contacting me again. Suspicious? Just a little.

Add to this, the fact the individual knew nothing about my claim or payment methods and this was due to data protection issues. I'd be wondered why she was there in the first place?

I understand you say you relative is very vunerable...but surely they should know better than to give our their bank details to..well, strangers?!

It seems that the letter and the ID made her think everything was kosher. As, indeed it might be, but it was the fact that the woman said they were an independent audit company too.....

real1314 wrote: »

I think that this sort of thing does exist. From my knowledge it would be a DWP employee (rather than Jobcentre Plus or Pension Service).

It was certainly common practice that all visiting staff would carry an ID card which would have a contact number for verification by the customer. Contacting the local office that deals with your benefits is also an option.

Also, a genuine caller should never refuse to allow checks to be made and to return if necessary at a later date.

Again, she didnt refer to herself as a DWP employee as far as I can tell.

I know (knew) the procedures as I used to be a Fraud Officer, but as she told me the story the alarm bells began to ring. However, as she has real isssues I didnt want to worry her too much overnight, so I have not probed too much, just tried to elicit the info by "casual" questioning.

Usualy, someone on here will have direct experience of most agencies so I thought someone may be able to set my mind at rest..

Duncombe

poet123 wrote: »

It seems that the letter and the ID made her think everything was kosher. As, indeed it might be, but it was the fact that the woman said they were an independent audit company too.....



Again, she didnt refer to herself as a DWP employee as far as I can tell.

I know (knew) the procedures as I used to be a Fraud Officer, but as she told me the story the alarm bells began to ring. However, as she has real isssues I didnt want to worry her too much overnight, so I have not probed too much, just tried to elicit the info by "casual" questioning.

Usualy, someone on here will have direct experience of most agencies so I thought someone may be able to set my mind at rest..

Right you are - there are a few on here who would be able to answer much better than I. If i can remember their names I will PM them to you and you can ask direct