Fraud Investigation
Ryedale District Council and its residents thank you for
entering this section of the web site where you will gain
information on how to report possible benefit fraud.
The government estimates that, nationally, over £2 billion
worth of benefits are paid out either fraudulently or in error.
This costs every household around £80 in taxes paid.
Ryedale District Council is committed to reducing fraud and
error within the benefits system that we administer, for the good
of our local residents and taxpayers nationwide.
Note
The information you provide will be taken in the strictest of
confidence.
Please give as much information and detail as you possibly can
when making the report.
Ensuring a high quality referral will give our Investigation
Officers the information they need to pursue those persons who
choose to abuse the benefits system.
What information do I need to
provide?
Here are a few pointers :
- Full name(s) & address(es) or person(s) alleged to be
committing benefit fraud.
- Type of alleged benefit fraud being committed - eg working
& claiming, not declaring resident partner or other adult, not
living at address or sub-letting, other monies coming in or bank
accounts held, or property owned.
- Full description(s) of persons involved - eg height, build,
hair colour - length and style, eye colour, distinguishing marks -
eg tattoos, birthmarks, or scars, habitual dress worn - eg
ground-worker wears work-boots, jeans and lumberjack shirt
every day.
If someone is working and claiming:
- Full name & address of employer.
- How long person has worked there?
- Type of work done? - number of hours? - level of earnings?
- Times person works.
- Are any work clothes worn - description.
- Is company vehicle used.
If someone is not declaring a resident
partner:
- Full name and description of alleged partner.
- Date of birth or National Insurance number known?
- How long has alleged partner been resident
- If alleged partner works, full name and address of their
employer, plus times they work. Any work clothes worn, do they have
company vehicle?
- If alleged partner is known to be on benefits, do they know
from what address they claim benefits from and what benefits are
claimed?
If someone is not living at an
address:
- How long the person has not been resident?
- What address the person is actually living at?
- Name of householder there?
- Have all belongings been removed from address?
- Does anyone visit to pick up post at address? - when and how
often?
If someone is not declaring other capital
owned:
- Type of capital? bank accounts/house/unit
trusts/stocks/shares/premium bonds etc.
- Which bank(s)?
- Full address of property(s) owned? - is there any mortgage on
address? - how much is outstanding? - whose name is mortgage in? -
which lender is it with?
- If other property owned, is it rented out? - to who? - how long
has it been rented out? - any other tenants names? - amount of rent
charged?
- How long these have been held/owned by person?
If someone is not declaring other
income:
- What type of income is it? - private pension / other benefits /
maintenance?
- How much? - how long have they been receiving it? - from
who?
If someone is not declaring other adults
(not their partner) living with them:
- Full name(s), date(s) of birth, and National Insurance numbers
of person(s) resident.
- How long resident? - address moved there from?
- Working or claiming benefits? - full employer details.
- If working, the times they work?
- How known to benefit customer? - friend, relative?
- Do they pay rent to stay there? - what is arrangement?
Landlords
We must not discount the fact that landlords could be involved
in the report of possible fraud. If you know or suspect a landlord
to be involved in the alleged fraud please provide as many details
as you can to substantiate this.
Vehicles
Please provide the make (eg Ford) model (eg Mondeo) colour and
registration of vehicle(s) being used. If a vehicle has signs,
markings or business details on it, please ensure these are
also given.
Potentially Violent
Please confirm if any person involved in the allegation is
known to be potentially violent.
If yes, how do you know this?
How do I report suspected Benefit
Fraud?
By Phone:
Benefit Fraud Hotline Freephone - 0800 174553 (To leave a
voice message) or 01653 600666 ext 377 (8.30am - 5.00pm Monday to
Thursday and 8.30am - 4.30pm Friday) if you wish to speak to
someone in person.
All calls will be treated in complete confidence.
If you wish the notify us in writing a downloadable form is
available, which can be printed, completed and posted to Benefit
Fraud, Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Malton. YO17
7HH.