Fraud Prevention and Detection Strategies

Reporting Fraud - Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit                             

It is estimated that every year benefit cheats cost around £2billion in stolen benefits.  This is money that could be spent on improving services for people in real need and it’s your taxes that are being defrauded.  The total cost of this fraud is equivalent to £80 per year from each family in Great Britain. 
                               
Fraudsters cost the Highland Council money each year in fraudulently claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.                                                               

The Highland Council is determined to stamp out fraud and has a dedicated counter fraud team.  All investigations are carried out with integrity and in a professional manner by trained staff.  

Benefit fraud is a criminal offence and if we think someone is fraudulently claiming benefit, we will investigate the circumstances.  Where we suspect third party collusion, we will also investigate the third party, e.g. landlord, employer.           
                                
If we have evidence that someone is committing benefit fraud, we can offer a formal caution, an administrative penalty or refer the case to the Procurator Fiscal with a view to prosecution.  In all cases, the Highland Council will seek to recover the total amount of the overpaid benefit.                                 

During 2005/2006, the Highland Council has referred 1 case and is in the process of submitting a further 3 cases, to the Procurator Fiscal for prosecution and have had 2 Administration Penalties accepted.  During the month of August 2005, we identified more than £40,000 of housing benefit and council tax benefit that was overpaid and we are taking all necessary action to recover this amount and to continue to ensure that the right benefit is paid to the right people at the right time.                      
 
Help Us to Help You    
                                          
How can you help us in our fight against benefit crime?  

Did you know that you may be committing a crime and may be prosecuted if you help people to lie to us?    
   
SAY NO, if someone asks you to sign a tenancy agreement to say they are charged more rent they are paying.                                                                    

SAY NO, if someone asks you to sign a letter stating that you are charging them rent when you are not.  
   
SAY NO, if someone asks you to sign a form to say they earn less than you are paying them.     
                      
SAY NO, if someone asks you to lie for them in any way in connection with a claim for benefit.    
                    
If you suspect someone is committing Benefit Fraud call us FREE and in CONFIDENCE on our Benefits Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 183 

or write to the:   
                                                    
Highland Investigation Team, PO Box 5650, Inverness, IV3 5YX  
                                              
You do not have to provide your name and address.

The information that you provide is extremely important to us and it is always helpful to our investigators if you can provide as much information as possible; the more detail received, the more likely it is that the investigation will have a successful outcome.      
                            
All information received is treated in the strictest confidence

Information Leaflets

We also provide information leaflets on Benefit Fraud, please see current documents section.