Would you report them?

redmel1621

Hi

I have had my friend round for lunch today and she told me that she has just found out a close family member is committing benefit fraud and has been for the last few years. She is really torn about whether to report them or not.

Tbh my initial thoughts were that she should as it is wrong but thinking about it a bit more I can understand how difficult the decision must be, with it being family.

I think she was hoping that I would give her the answer but I couldn't as although I did say that it is wrong and it is effectively stealing she is really worried about what might happen to the person, i.e jail or something. In reality they would probably just have to pay it back, but it is a completely thought out and pre planned fraudulant claim so they may get a worse penalty!! She knows the person would not cope at all and she would hate herself forever for causing such misery to a close relative :-(

She just kept saying it is their life and they will probably get caught in the end anyway I think to reassure herself she is right not to report them...

Since she has left I have been mulling over the discussion and am still no clearer about what she should do.

What would you do, has anyone been in that situation before?

Mel x

Orlando_Virgin

Me personally, no I wouldn't report them. Not if it was close family. I'd give my opinion and tell them I thought it was ridiculously wrong and the risks involved and let them make their own decision, but I don't think I could bring myself to report them. But I'm very close to my sister and parents so that would influence it. They're not the type of people to do that any way.

NAR

Report it anonymously, they obviously think they won't get caught and therefore won't stop. The longer it goes on the stiffer the penalty will be when they are finally caught.

**professor~yaffle**

Yes, a family member was a bit naughty a few years back, claiming housing benefit but at the same time getting rent money from a lodger and not declaring it. No I wouldn't have reported him. They found him out anyway :rotfl:

To put things into perspective, the amount of money lost to benefit fraud is TINY compared to the amount of unclaimed benefits, from people being entitled to benefits but for whatever reason not claiming them.

Errata

Vast numbers committing benefit fraud aren't shopped by their own family, that's how they get away with it.

Georgiegirl256

How close a family member is it? I would be inclined to tell her to report them, I can't stand people who think they are above everyone else and fiddle the system. If they're claiming something they shouldn't, then that's not right , benefits are there as a helping hand, a safety net....not a lifestyle choice.

FBaby

To put things into perspective, the amount of money lost to benefit fraud is TINY compared to the amount of unclaimed benefits, from people being entitled to benefits but for whatever reason not claiming them.

I don't think this put things into perspective at all, on the contrary, it shows that not only the money is going to someone when it shouldn't, it also isn't going to someone who it should to.

Personally, I think if the person was doing deliberately, enjoying a nice lifestyle as a result of the fraud and was bragging about it, i would tell them that I have a serious issue with what they are doing, that I really wouldn't want to have to report them because of the consequences I wouldn't want them to be facing, but if they didn't stop claiming asap, they might leave me with no choice but to do so. It will then be in their court to decide whether to do the right thing or not.

mountainofdebt

**professor~yaffle** wrote: »

l:

To put things into perspective, the amount of money lost to benefit fraud is TINY compared to the amount of unclaimed benefits, from people being entitled to benefits but for whatever reason not claiming them.

Oh well that's all right then isn't it??

When will people learn that benefit fraud is not OK? That by committing benefit fraud, they are just quickening the day when the whole system becomes untenable and its dismantled for good.....

Errata

To put things into perspective, the amount of money lost to benefit fraud is TINY compared to the amount of unclaimed benefits, from people being entitled to benefits but for whatever reason not claiming them

Putting things into even more perspective: the amount of discovered benefit fraud is tiny, but the amount of undiscovered benefit fraud is vast.

jacques_chirac

What would you do if this relative stole from your purse each week? Benefit fraud is no different - they are stealing from the public purse that we all contribute to.

paulwellerfan

i wouldnt report i would just think KARMA....