Universal Tax Credits Scam

[Deleted User]

JohnAllan wrote: »

This post isn't an invitation to shame a vunerable person. Lessons have been learned. We're looking for the next best action to take.

And all of a sudden she's a vulnerable person? Strange you didn't mention this straight off.

tomtom256

JohnAllan wrote: »

This post isn't an invitation to shame a vunerable person. Lessons have been learned. We're looking for the next best action to take.

Vulnerable or not, she willingly gave her details to a friend of a friend for some "free" money, then gave most of this "free" money to the friend of a friend. after verifying her identification online and thought nothing of it.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but the next best action is to report what happened to the DWP, see if you can go back to whatever benefit(s) they where claiming or see if they have to contiune with the UC claim.

A fraud decision will not be made overnight and may take months of investigation, however seeing as you know the person who comitted the fraud, it should be sorted fairly quickly.

However if it's been reported to the relevant departments, then it's just a waiting game until a decision is made regarding all of the above.

System

Not going to comment on people falling for scams, except to say that with so much info on them on here, online, on the news etc, it surprises me that people still do fall for it, but I know quite sensible people who have ( not for "free money" though).

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/09/universal-credit-scam-leaves-claimants-pounds-hundreds-out-of-pocket

Reading this, you might also want to check your partners credit record, in case her details have been used by the scammer for other things aside from the advance money, eg to acquire a credit card/loan or similar?

speedfreek1000

OP have a read of this thread Advance payment fraud: client as victim

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/14469/

There's a few more discussions in that section as well.... which I'm pretty sure in at least one I've seen this exact scenario pop up.