Benefit cheat who invented 7 children in just over a year

[AB Asks]

A 25-year-old woman received over �40,000 in benefits over 18 months for seven children she completely invented. She registered for child support for 'quadruplets' and then only eight months later she asked for more benefits for another baby, and then the following week she registered yet another baby for more payments. A while later she called the tax credit line to ask for more financial support for fictional child number SEVEN. Suspicions arose after this and investigators were sent to her house to see to see what was going on. When investigators arrived they found only one child who wasn't one she was claiming for. She now faces prison. What do you think? How should fraudsters like this be punished? Should be forced to pay the money back? Or would a prison sentence be better?

[Reverandfunk]

Prison

although she will end up getting 2 hours community service and have to pay back 2 quid a week

[river]

Lock her up throw away the key...she's ponced �40k out off the state who does she think she is?!

[squarebear]

Yes I'd have to agree with prison too. It's no punishment for them paying back �2 a week.

[Lucy Thomas]

Both.

[Reverandfunk]

Thing is people do it because they know that there is virtually no chance of prison

[squarebear]

Well it's time to schock them in that case eh Rev?

[squarebear]

*shock*

[Reverandfunk]

We should build more prisons,

[Pippa68]

I don't know how she is going to pay the money back.

What puzzles me is how on earth did she get away with claiming 40k? what in the name of bu88eration are the Tax Credit people doing by not following up claims properly?

My dad has been waiting for pension credit money for 5 months...they keep asking him for proof of this and that, and this woman manages to claim for kids without even having birth certificates, or the authorities checking birth records?

*sheesh*

[vehelpfulguy]

This is NOT the womans fault.

It is the fault of our stupid goverment and benefits agencies who give out money hand over fist with the most minimal of checks.

This woman is the tip of the iceberg and there are MILLIONS of pounds being claimed by people who dont deserve it.

If the benefit fraud was reduced then the government could probably knock a lot off the tax we pay.

But no, they sit back and do nothing, knowing it is easier to get the tax from those in work, than to stop the benefit fraud from those who dont work (or who are illegal immigrants).

One example of a person who got nearly 2 MILLION POUNDS, including some of it from benefit fraud (as well as other criminal activites).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=418487&in_page_i d=1770

[vehelpfulguy]

This couple claimed for 16 children and got �125,000 pounds.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime /article1906859.ece

Is it any wonder people cheat the system when it is so easy.

[squarebear]

Of course it's her fault. She knew what she was doing was illegal and should pay the penalty. If that is a prison sentence then so be it.

[Reverandfunk]

Not the womans fault?

So if I go into a high street shop and their security is poor, if I nick a load of stuff it's there fault because it was too easy???

[Reverandfunk]

How hard would this be to stop:

I've had a baby

can I see the birth cerificate please

End of story

[Pippa68]

I certainly see where vehelpfulguy is coming from.

Yes, she is a thieving get ~ but some fault MUST lie in the governments handling of things.

So many people are paying back monies due to the tax credit offices incorrect assessments, through no fault at all of the claimants.

The CSA owes a great deal of money to parents on both sides too. It's all a complete shambles.

[vehelpfulguy]

> Not the womans fault?

It IS the womans fault for trying to claim it.

BUT it is NOT the womans fault that our benefits system is so lax that they pay out money with little checks.

Lets not attack one woman, lets attack the Government for giving away our money in such a lazy manner.

[vehelpfulguy]

>I've had a baby
>can I see the birth cerificate please

It is not that easy, anyone can ask for a birth certificate.

So you could go to a cemetary to find the name of a dead child, or look in the paper for details of a child that has died.

You can then send away for a copy of the birth certificate.

This was done in the original Day of the Jackal film and it enabled the killer to get a passport.

This is now done on a huge scale for people who want to get a new identity, maybe for identity fraud, or for illegal immigrants to give them a UK identity.

[perigra]

both me, my fifteen children and my three elderly parents who i'm a carer for all think she's a victim of a society that doesn't care and should be compensated with a lot of money (preferably cash, maybe euroes coz i'll be needing some soon)

[squarebear]

This woman has knowingly done wrong yet the government is to blame?! It's about time that people took responsibility for their own actions.

[Pippa68]

They are both to blame, squarebear.

The government cannot tell the difference between their ar5e and their elbows when it comes to giving money to the deserved and the ones who are fraudulent.

Don't you find that deplorable?