AIBU to report her for benefit fraud...

[Bringyourown]

Very long story short. Person I know has been claiming benefits for at least 7 years I've known her.
Now this is a case of sour grapes, she misrepresented herself to me and basically used me for all she could get out of me, and me being stupid and gullible and so happy that someone liked me that I gave her everything I could.
I've been stewing on this for months and my mental health has broken down to the point I just can't get out of bed. I have nothing and nobody left.
She is a dog walker/boarder, horse trader and now a scrap metal merchant.
Should I report her or should I just put it down to experience?

great post madein1995

Not one person on this thread has a problem with genuine recipients of benefits.

But benefit fraud is theft. Reporting theft is the morally right thing to do. Those committing theft need to take responsibility for their own actions and if they get caught any sanctions incurred are their own fault.

The fact that MPs/corporations/rich people behave in a less than moral way does not change any of that.

Tilly sorry but reporting someone for benefit fraud wont mean that rough sleepers get more help will it? Are you simple?

Not everyone has empathy. If people are quite happy for a woman to be reported for benefit fraud regardless of being told of any proof of the matter, them no, they not only lack empathy they also are darn right nasty and spiteful.

well quite, pasttimes11, well put.

you wonder what sort of lives people have where they are crying that their neighbour might get a fiver more than they do, or something.

Totally agree brewdog the fact people think that stealing money fraudulently is ok as the government gives foreign aid is hilarious. It’s the gimme gimme I deserve it all attitude.

Tilly it certain won't help people on the streets but can certain cause MORE to be on them.

sweetsomethings do you not wonder why the poor are being demonised when MPs have massive expense claims, their families on the payroll, their homes paid for in town and country through whichever latest loophole they or their advisers can find..? not ever? When those are the same MPs who voted that disabled people should have their benefits reduced by £30 a week? These are our leaders! and you are bleating about 'stealing'?!
Get real.

Fraud is stealing end of . If you tell me your committing fraud you are reported. Regardless of what others do two crimes don’t make a right . I will not buy into the boo hoo poor me. I deserve to rob hard earned tax payers who play by the rules.

Tillyit certain won't help people on the streets but can certain cause MORE to be on them

And you called me simple!!!

sweetsomethings anyone who finishes a sentence with 'end of' isn't really worth wasting energy with in 'discussion'.
Therefore I will wish you a lovely day and go off and do something more interesting with my own day.

Have a lovely life, although I find that unlikely with an attitude like that.

And meanwhile no-one is concerned about the OP who sounds like she is in a bad way.

I wish you hadn't reported her, OP, because that is not the path to recovery. But I hope you do find some peace with this situation.

Coyoacan if you read the comments a few of us have asked the op if she is ok and suggested she gets help etc including myself

Tilly I didn't call you simple......you implied that benefit fraudsters were taking money away from the people on the streets. I said it didn't, but reporting people for fraud (with no proof)can only add to the problem and ultimately lead to more homelessness. Is that so hard to understand.

I hope the person the Op reported is ok too when the shitstorm arrives that's she's started, as far as we know with no proof.Like many have said on this thread when people have spoken of the rich fiddling their taxes, two wrongs dont make a right. If the op has reported this woman purely through revenge rather then any actual proof of fraud, two wrongs certainly don't make a right.

Pastimes when did the OP say she never had proof? Just because she didn’t post ALL the details and why would she want to make herself identifiable who knows what other crimes her friend would be willing to commit. Again is she doesn’t have any proof then the friend has nothing to worrying about. Many people working for HRMC have said benefits don’t stop while an investigation is happening unless they have seen the proof themselves in which case she deserves what is coming to her .

People also say benefits do stop automatically, there's been loads of similar threads saying this. The op didn't have to identify herself, just saying "I have proof" would have been enough. I can't see why she asked aibu tbh, her mind seemed to be made up.

I say you were right to report. Serves her right for decieving you and abusing your trust. Yes it's vengeful.

But be sure to report factually. Don't state your suspicion, inference, or hunch as facts.

What did she do to you OP, con you out of money? How what happened?

Tilly why shouldn't I "harp" on about the homeless. Don't you think it's a problem? and you really think our foreign aid helps the homeless abroad, well show me where if you can, and I don't begrudge all foreign aid at all, but I do when it goes to countries that have space programmes who have said they don't even want our aid. Google it. I mention it only because of posters who talk about us not having a bottomless put of money.

To the poster who doesn't believe we have people dying in our streets and also freezing cold flats with no food, try google, you'll find plenty.

Oh just noticed, that was you Tilly who doesn't believe about the homeless dying. You need to start reading the news.

There is another thread where the poster is a full time carer for her adult son with complex mental and physical health needs. His respite care allocation has just been cut in half. That's half of what was a pretty paltry amount anyway.

I find it abhorrent that benefit fraudsters are contributing to there being less money available to provide the best possible social care (as in better than the bare bones currently provided) for those who really need it.

You also realise that most "homeless" people are fraudsters yes?

Any proof of the rubbish you are claiming?

MrsCholly if every single person in the Uk stopped fraud there still wouldn't be an extra penny for that woman's son. That isn't the way it works.

Pasttimes economics is obviously not your strong point. Alleviating the debt burden e.g. by reducing benefit fraud means that there is potential for more of those funds to be allocated to social care. Granted it also requires the political will to do so.