Council takes new steps to catch benefit cheats
17/11/08
Aberdeen City Council has introduced a raft of measures to catch out benefit fraudsters who are trying to con the authority into lining their pockets.
A benefit fraud hotline and an online benefit fraud reporting facility have been set up, which have already been used to help root out false claimants.
The council has also recruited an intelligence-gathering officer, who is responsible for conducting background checks and obtaining information through the National Anti Fraud Network.
Anti-fraud posters are being displayed in libraries and other public buildings, to encourage people to report benefit fraudsters.
Every report made is looked into by the city council’s fraud manager, and authorised surveillance of people suspected of being benefit cheats is regularly carried out.
Since April, fraud officers have identified housing benefit and council tax frauds of about £65,000, which are being dealt with, and two cases have already been referred to the Procurator Fiscal in Aberdeen.
Several months of investigation work, undertaken after information was received from the Department of Work and Pensions data matching service which matches information from central and local government departments and highlights any discrepancies, led to the conviction in April of a woman who had fraudulently claimed £7,164.15 of housing benefit and £1056 of council tax benefit.
She was ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service, which is a direct alternative to custody, and ordered to repay the money to the city council.
In January Aberdeen City Council’s benefits investigation team will look at other potential false claims based on the results of the third National Fraud Initiative.
Jacek Nowak, head of customer relationship management said: “Benefit cheats who steal money from the public purse are actually stealing money from you and me.
“Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime and it does have a negative effect on our society. Aberdeen City Council will not tolerate this and is determined to crack down on people who try to cheat the system. We have taken some very positive steps which are already reaping rewards.”
To report someone you suspect of committing benefit fraud call the hotline on 01224 523526, or use the online reporting facility at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/benefitfraud
The benefit investigation team is responsible for the prevention and detection of housing and council tax benefit fraud.
The team of professionally trained investigators is empowered to obtain information from financial institutions such as credit card companies and banks, as well as government departments and other local authorities. Information can also be sourced from employers, utility companies and internet providers.
Other investigative tools used to obtain information include surveillance, computer data matches (including the National Fraud Initiative), and joint working with the Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
