BENEFIT FRAUD

[chas2008]

anyone worked with the DWP/HMRC or had 1st hand knowledge of a benefit fraud investigation ?
Do they question/interview neighbours of the person concerned ??

[friedgreentomato]

I was once asked by HMRC about my neighbours - they were fiddling tax credits.

[chas2008]

thats what i was hoping, i want to report someone but the info is so specific they would know it come from me.

[Smowball]

I reported somebody once for benefit fraud and stayed anonymous. Gave them every detail about the person and how obvious it was that they were being benefit cheats. They are still claiming all these benefits and working cash in hand.

[wolf63]

They will collect as much information as they can from many different sources depending on the nature of the fraud.

[chas2008]

smowball,
this guys been doing it for over 20 years

[danchip]

can you not do it anonymously online these days

[Celticv11]

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/

[chas2008]

i am aware of the on-line reporting and that is the route i will go down, but the info is so specific they would know it come from me.
so i was rather hoping just enough info to point them in the right direction then hopefully the neighbours would fill the gaps in..(they are not aware of his benefit fraud)

[ummmm]

They won't divulge the information. They will investigate so they have their own information. You are just giving them a starting point.

[danchip]

you can basically give them a name and address and why you think it is a fraudulent claim and they will do the rest you dont need to go into great detail but it would help!

[Celticv11]

You only have to divulge as much as you wish, if there is something specific that only you know, do not tell them as there is no guarantee that they will not be asked questions relating to it

[ummmm]

Tell them as much as you can. They will get the evidence.

[sandyRoe]

You can't be sure that they won't learn that it was you who denounced them. Why ruin your own peace of mind in order to do someone else a bad turn?

[danchip]

if you feel strongly enough to do it then why hide?

[hc4361]

danchip, that should be obvious.

[ummmm]

A bad turn, Sandy?

Are benefit frauds not doing every tax payer ' a bad turn'?

[chas2008]

bad turn ? you are having a laugh....

[Barmaid]

I've never know a member of the public give evidence against a benefit cheat. Normally they use intelligence from the public to commence an investigation. The investigation normally consists of surveillance, writing to employers, checking bank accounts etc.

[Celticv11]

I know someone who , when the interview was taking place, could clearly see the name and address of the informant, albeit upside down, on the paperwork in front of the dwp interviewer