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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if the DSS would check people's facebooks in cases where they suspect benefit fraud?

68 replies

missnamechange · 06/12/2010 11:01

i have namechanged for this. my best friend is living with her bloke and has been for months and is claiming benefits as a single mum while he works. i have no intention of grassing her up as to be honest i can see why she is doing it to a certain extent and its just none of my business. but i know people have wildly differing opinions on this but grassing is not for me.

also, to a certain extent i can see why she is doing it, she has not been with him that long and he doesnt earn much so she is worried about them being really really skint when they do declare it. and she has told me that they are going to declare him living there once christmas is out of the way.

however i worry about her because she is pretty blatant about it, everyone knows they live together (although i dont know how many people know she is still on benefits, she may have only told me) but my main worry is her facebook page, she is listed as engaged to him, she makes loads of references on there that would pretty much prove she is living with him, and there are loads of pictures of them all together etc. if she got investigated her facebook page would pretty much hang her :( ...i feel like i ought to say something to her but i darent in case she does get busted and suspects me!

OP posts:
2blessed2bstressed · 06/12/2010 18:57

I understand why people get angry about benefit fraud - I do too, but I also get angry with people like huffypuffymummy who seem to make a lot of assumptions - based on what, exactly?
The person who was reported looks like they're doing well, but how do you know she's having her rent paid, and not paying council tax? Did she tell you?
Or do you just not like her?

superv1xen · 07/12/2010 09:22

i notice huffypuffypuffymummy whatever her name is Hmm has not come back to the thread.

jumpsuit · 07/12/2010 22:16

People from my dc school have told me one way or other they are eg: in council housing,( work at the school) and at the same time go on 5 week holidays to jamaica & wear new uggs ( last years knackered)

I will always fail to get how council housing is for life? Confused I guess that's another thread...

superv1xen · 08/12/2010 09:05

Hmm @ jumpsuit

huffypuffymummy · 08/12/2010 09:31

here i am - sorry i am not sat at my laptop all day to respond - i have a life.

i know she is committing fraud as she has told a lot of people what she is doing, she has been doing it for years and a lot of people are fed up with it. so yes i reported her, i would report anyone i suspected of doing it too. if they aren't doing anything wrong they have nothing to worry about do they? Smile

welshbyrd · 08/12/2010 10:28

I reported someone some months ago, this person is a distant relative.

I reported her for attending the local gym like 4-5 times a week, but was claiming sickness benefit. Id known about her for months and months, and did nothing, however having spoken to parents at school who knew here extremely well, discovered she wasnt buying anything for her DC, to the point, she would eat chocolate/anything really in front of her DC, if they asked for one, she would reply your having your sandwich for lunch at 12 eg, so no, and would happily munch on. Her children's meals were at best small, ie, one meal I know about, one smiley, cut in half, a beef burger, and half a cut up cheese string, hmmm not good for a 5&6 year old.
Happily though, school have picked up on it, referred them to TAC, parent tried refusing, and teacher replied, if you don't comply, social services will be involved.

Her claiming all that money and those poor DC having nothing, ive never reported anyone in my life, but did it solely for her DC.

cakeywakey · 08/12/2010 10:37

Local council benefit fraud teams do check social networking sites to build cases. They use it to back up the other information that they can gather from all sorts of other places - often in partnership with the DWP.

If your friend isn't caught for a while, she'll be deep in the shit because she'll be expected to pay back every penny she's fraudulently claimed, will get a criminal record and could even be given a suspended sentence or be electronically tagged. The council will also splash the case all over the local papers, they love a 'benefit fraudster caught' story.

I'd stay well clear to be honest and not mention anything just in case she does blame you when she gets caught - I bet she won't take responsibility for it when she is.

FindingAManger · 08/12/2010 10:49

If you aren't my 'friend' you can't see anything much about me on FB.

superv1xen · 08/12/2010 12:47

thats what i thought findingamanger most people have their profiles set so people who arent their facebook friend can't actually see anything.

unless DSS have the power to gain access to people's pages. wouldnt surprise me tbh.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 08/12/2010 12:55

They can check Facebook but can only see what is public. Hacking would be illegal, and facebook would only give access with a court order.

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 08/12/2010 13:02

"I reported her for attending the local gym like 4-5 times a week, but was claiming sickness benefit. "

and??? exH was legitimately claiming ESA (sickness benefit) he was advised to join the local gym by his CPN, and because he was on benefits a months membership was just £15 - and the benefits for him (mentally and physically) were more than worth the £15 a month.

welshbyrd · 08/12/2010 14:26

no really baroqin - she was doing a hour yoga lesson then go onto weights etc, and really hasnt got anything wrong with her.

If she was really ill she would not have had her benefits stopped, she is with a county council run leisure centre, and clocks a card in everytime she attends and doing what, investigation knew what times, how long and exactly what she was doing.

Not all sickness benefit claimers, are in your DH boat,I had stated on my 1st post, this was the very first time I have ever phoned on someone, I wouldnt have done it, had I not been sure she was doing wrong.

welshbyrd · 08/12/2010 14:30

Hence why I reported to social security not social services, [small meals for children etc], I didnt know for sure the kids situation was facts,even though I had heard from very close family member that it was true, I hadnt witnessed it myself,

Funkychunkymunky · 08/12/2010 14:40

If it was my friend I'd be taking screen shots and using them to report her.

Some people are so selfish. If she isn't entitled to the money she shouldn't get it.

Breezy1985 · 08/12/2010 14:54

It's difficult, My mum is currently doing this now and it does make me so mad but i couldn't report my own mum :(

She doesn't splash it about on her facebook account though and nobody else knows :(

Ladymuck · 08/12/2010 15:06

DWP will use a variety of means to check up on people. They can access DVLA records for example and see which vehicles are registered to an address. They do ask schools for information to, and I've seen DWP records where they've made notes of who the recorded adults are who can pick up a child, as well as who typically collects/picks up a child and who comes to parents evenings.

FB is the least of her worries if she hits the radar.

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2010 15:12

why is council housing seen as being for benefit claimants only??Confused (further up thread!!)

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 08/12/2010 15:49

ILoveTIFFANY - Well I'd argue that the below market rate on Council Houses constitutes a benefit.

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2010 17:05

but so is child benefit....we're all entitled to both!!

but its not at all like that is it?

and maybe its the private rents that are too high (greedy landlords) and council rents are more like the correct market rate....

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 08/12/2010 17:13

Well Child Benefit is a benefit. The clues in the title....

Private rents are too high because there aren't enough properties and housing benefit subsidises it. Council rates mitigate this for some people.

The answer is more houses. It doesn't even really matter if they are public or private as long as there are more of them.

FruitbatAuntie · 08/12/2010 19:06

Yes, they would check Facebook.

And also credit records, so any bills or bank statements posted to that address in his name, or joint names, would hang them. Also any credit applications made with that as his contact address - and lots of companies check your credit file when you order from them, even if you're not actually taking out 'credit' from them as such. If they have transferred money between bank accounts, this will show a link, also if he has paid any of her bills by card, direct debit etc.

It's sooo much easier to prove benefit fraud in the electronic age we are in now. Much easier than lurking outside peoples' houses on dark mornings. They will also interview neighbours and family memebers to check whether they are viewed as a 'couple' by the community.

She really needs to notify a change in circumstances. I suspect if she does this, they won't really dig back to try and prove when he actually did move in.

FruitbatAuntie · 08/12/2010 19:10

Benefit teams have always checked local papers, and stuff like Take a Break magazine.

I know of several people who were convicted of fraud following their life stories being published in Take a Break - "I fell madly in love with Mike and he moved in in Feb 2004. The arguments startedin 2005 and then he had an affair so I kicked him out. He was really sorry so I let him move back in again in June', etc... Many people just don't think before they put pen to paper! Grin

ivykaty44 · 08/12/2010 20:10

they do check sky subscriptions and to what chaneel are paid for - so I guess face book would be a yes as much easier than sky................

and no you r not being unreasnable and you are very much on the right track as hey will check if she is dobbed in

ivykaty44 · 08/12/2010 20:14

If you aren't my 'friend' you can't see anything much about me on FB.

if you have sky subscription it is noramlly private - but there are ways and means of cathcing you out

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2010 20:18

what on earth would sky tell them???

i have the sports channels,does that mean i have a man stashed away somewhere???

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