What does a fraud investigation letter say?

earthbound_misfit

Hello, I thought this was the place to ask as others may have been accused of fraud (rightly or wrongly).

The reason I am asking is because I am considering reporting someone. They are no longer committing fraud but were for a while previously. I know they were (would not report if any doubt, know malicious reports are the majority). Now I will turn a blind eye to many things but this situation was taking the proverbial. It involves a situation that I'm surprised hasn't been discovered already as it only needs the DWP to cross reference with other government agencies.

Anyway, my concern is I will be targetted (am counted as a "vulnerable person" fwiw) because it will be blatently obvious is was me reporting. So if they get a letter saying "We've had a report.." or similar, I do not want to report! However, if they get a letter saying "We've cross checked your claim against XXXX..." then it won't be obviosu anyone was involved.

So I'm just wondering what letters say.
Thanks

paragon909

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Hello, I thought this was the place to ask as others may have been accused of fraud (rightly or wrongly).

The reason I am asking is because I am considering reporting someone. They are no longer committing fraud but were for a while previously. I know they were (would not report if any doubt, know malicious reports are the majority). Now I will turn a blind eye to many things but this situation was taking the proverbial. It involves a situation that I'm surprised hasn't been discovered already as it only needs the DWP to cross reference with other government agencies.

Anyway, my concern is I will be targetted (am counted as a "vulnerable person" fwiw) because it will be blatently obvious is was me reporting. So if they get a letter saying "We've had a report.." or similar, I do not want to report! However, if they get a letter saying "We've cross checked your claim against XXXX..." then it won't be obviosu anyone was involved.

So I'm just wondering what letters say.
Thanks

If you report what you believe is fraud to DWP, They will investigate and may ask the claimants to come in for a compliance interview which basically checks if they are on the right benefit, They normally check bank statements etc and ask other general question...

If you knew they were committing fraud for a while, why are you waiting till now to report, And now they aren't committing fraud, Is there a reason why you waited?

earthbound_misfit

paragon909 wrote: »

If you knew they were committing fraud for a while, why are you waiting till now to report, And now they aren't committing fraud, Is there a reason why you waited?

I didn't know at the time it occurred. There was something that made me suspect but I didn't realise what was actually going on, which was much worse than I suspected.
Then the person went abroad, possibly permanently, so there seemed no point as they wouldn't be able to track him down. But he decided to come back.
It's all moot now anyway, I don't want to report if it puts me at risk. Thanks for the advice.

Poppie68

I'm all for reporting benefit fraud because in my opinion it's theft against the tax payers and done for pure greed but this is obviously a hard one if you are scared of the come back. Maybe speak to the DWP anonymously for their advice?

bengal-stripe

Deleted! - Question previously answered.

tomtom256

The investigator does not have to tell the suspect how the investigation arose or how it was received.

kingfisherblue

I have had two compliance interviews - both a few years ago now. I can't remember what the letters said. I think they just told me to come for the interviews on X date at Y time.

The first, I was told, was because it was discovered that I was working - and then the interviewer read the details, which stated that I volunteered for GirlGuiding. It was (and is) true, and I had sent in a letter from my Commissioner stating that it is a voluntary position for which I do not receive payment. I was informed that during cross-referencing, a member of staff had discovered my 'working' status.

The second was an anonymous and malicious phone call. I was accused of benefit fraud involving Direct Payments, which I had apparantly discussed on the playground with the lady I employed for a few hours a week via DP (to look after my son, for whom the DP were paid). Although our children were in the same school, they were in different departments and on different playgrounds. I offered to bring in all paperwork - which was declined. The interviewer told me that it was obviously a false accusation and made for malicious reasons. She also advised me that in cases like this, the accused but innocent person often receives things like pizza deliveries that were not ordered, so to be careful. Luckily, I wasn't a victim of such antics.

So, I don't think the reason for compliance interviews were mentioned in the letters, but they were clearly stated at the beginning of the interviews.

TELLIT01

Compliance officers should not give any indication of the source of the information they are investigating. The problem arises if only one person knew about a potential fraud, although in reality it is highly unlikely that only one person was aware.

dippy3103

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Hello, I thought this was the place to ask as others may have been accused of fraud (rightly or wrongly).

The reason I am asking is because I am considering reporting someone. They are no longer committing fraud but were for a while previously. I know they were (would not report if any doubt, know malicious reports are the majority). Now I will turn a blind eye to many things but this situation was taking the proverbial. It involves a situation that I'm surprised hasn't been discovered already as it only needs the DWP to cross reference with other government agencies.

Anyway, my concern is I will be targetted (am counted as a "vulnerable person" fwiw) because it will be blatently obvious is was me reporting. So if they get a letter saying "We've had a report.." or similar, I do not want to report! However, if they get a letter saying "We've cross checked your claim against XXXX..." then it won't be obviosu anyone was involved.

So I'm just wondering what letters say.
Thanks

The letters don't say anything at all about where the information came from. This is on the compliance side & also criminal. Like you said, the information could have come to light by cross matching. If you report over the phone and explain your concerns then it can be noted.