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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To report friend for fraud?

172 replies

Bbttrr · 13/09/2024 22:19

NC as outing.

Friend "A" is working cash in hand whilst claiming benefits. Flaunts her outings, holidays, purchases etc online constantly. Openly advertises her cash in hand work on social media. Claims a healthy sum each month in benefits whilst living in a 1/4+ mil house.

Would IBU to report her?

OP posts:
Holidaysrule · 14/09/2024 22:38

@NoGwenItsABoxingDayTrifle it wouldn’t benefit you in anyway? If everyone who was fraudulently claiming benefit were no longer able to do so, there would be more available for the people that actually need it. You might not need it, but there are a lot of people who do.

NoGwenItsABoxingDayTrifle · 14/09/2024 22:53

Holidaysrule · 14/09/2024 22:38

@NoGwenItsABoxingDayTrifle it wouldn’t benefit you in anyway? If everyone who was fraudulently claiming benefit were no longer able to do so, there would be more available for the people that actually need it. You might not need it, but there are a lot of people who do.

If everybody who was claiming fraudulent money was no longer able to do so I don't believe that extra money would be shared out with the people who genuinely need it.
The government couldn't give a toss about poverty, they never have unfortunately.

PandoraSox · 14/09/2024 23:03

NoGwenItsABoxingDayTrifle · 14/09/2024 22:53

If everybody who was claiming fraudulent money was no longer able to do so I don't believe that extra money would be shared out with the people who genuinely need it.
The government couldn't give a toss about poverty, they never have unfortunately.

I agree. Around £7 billion is lost to fraud and error in the benefits system each year. Compare that to the £23 billion of benefits which goes unclaimed each year. Why don't governments do more to ensure the people who are entitled to benefits claim them?

GivingitToGod · 14/09/2024 23:13

MarvellousMable · 14/09/2024 00:59

No it is not. If everyone did this the country would be even more bankrupt.

She is not stealing from the government, she is stealing from all the people who pay tax with her benefit fraud and working cash in hand so presumably not declaring her income and paying tax.

There is no magic money tree.

And don’t get me started on uk business owners who have moved offshore

So true, and those people who are cheating the system are significantly better off financially than those who are working and paying tax. I know several people/families who are working FT and struggling with their financial commitments. Seems so unfair

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/09/2024 23:25

DadJoke · Today 01:52

Snitches get stitches

Charming.

XenoBitch · 14/09/2024 23:44

This thread is nuts.

A 1/4 million house? That means £250k, which can't get you much more than a tiny flat in some places.
I live in a shit hole town, and £250k, sorry... 1/4 million will get you a small terraced house in the sort of area you wont venture out after dark in.

And what does the value of your "friend" house matter anyway. If she owns it, she owns it. Benefits only cover mortgage for a few months at best, and then it is a loan. If she is on HB, then the value does not matter.

You can be on UC and earn. There is a work allowance.

If you think she is in the wrong then report her, but dont call yourself a friend.

Gorgonemilezola · 15/09/2024 00:12

Jc2001 · 14/09/2024 19:09

I look on Zoopla all the time I don't see any 5 bedroom detached houses for £250k in the north.

Edited

Plenty examples upthread

NoGwenItsABoxingDayTrifle · 15/09/2024 09:03

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149859326#/?channel=RES_BUY

One example

Jon8 · 15/09/2024 09:06

It affects all taxpayers. It must stop, report her!

OrwellianTimes · 15/09/2024 10:02

Bbttrr · 14/09/2024 18:58

Tell me you live down south without telling me you live down south, quick look on Zoopla up North shows you what's available on the market, not rocket science 🙄

I live in one of the cheapest areas of the country, a long, long, way from “down South”.

you can not get a livable 5 bed house around here for £250k.

Leah5678 · 15/09/2024 13:47

shuggles · 14/09/2024 00:17

Actually, for one person, a £250k house IS a lot. Keep in mind that most houses are bought between two people, so that would be equivalent to a colossal £500k home.

It doesn't say she owns the house? Just that it is worth 250k which is really a standard two bedroom house where I am (ordinary town by the sea).
So if she's renting a home worth 250k it's hardly a big deal especially if she's renting it from the council then her rent will potentially half what private renters pay.
Idk maybe the op updates more I haven't read the full thread

HauntedbyMagpies · 15/09/2024 14:14

PureBoggin · 13/09/2024 22:26

Well you are obviously not her "friend" and calling a £250000 house a 1/4 of a million pound house is disingenuous. But you can do what you want.

250,000 is quarter of a million.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

HauntedbyMagpies · 15/09/2024 14:17

Trainerstrainers · 13/09/2024 23:35

OP you must know the MNs rules? Basically never myob on anyything & other posters shouldn’t either cause otherwise the whole forum thing doesn’t really exist. So it’s fine to speculate on real life deaths, crimes, gossip about celebs, wonder what your neighbours are really getting up to, etc. but always myob when it comes to benefit fraud.

Edited

This!

The next thread I go on, that's about someone else I'm going to say "mind your own business" and see how long it takes for someone to call me out...

shuggles · 15/09/2024 17:03

@Leah5678 It doesn't say she owns the house? Just that it is worth 250k which is really a standard two bedroom house where I am (ordinary town by the sea).

I get that she doesn't own the house. I was just pointing out that most houses are purchased between two people, so it doesn't make sense to compare her living circumstances to a house bought between two people.

It makes far more sense to compare her directly with single people. The vast majority of single people would not be in a position to access a £250k home because it would simply be too expensive.

Leah5678 · 15/09/2024 17:40

shuggles · 15/09/2024 17:03

@Leah5678 It doesn't say she owns the house? Just that it is worth 250k which is really a standard two bedroom house where I am (ordinary town by the sea).

I get that she doesn't own the house. I was just pointing out that most houses are purchased between two people, so it doesn't make sense to compare her living circumstances to a house bought between two people.

It makes far more sense to compare her directly with single people. The vast majority of single people would not be in a position to access a £250k home because it would simply be too expensive.

I've just read all the ops updates and it doesn't say whether she is single or not. I see the house has five bedrooms though which is wild so It can't be owned by the council unless she has about 10 kids lol.

I did see some five bed houses on Rightmove in the far north of England for a reasonable price to rent so I guess it is possible she lives there

Or could have inherited the house.

She could even have housemates helping pay the rent seeing as the house is so big

The op is kinda vague. Just saying living in a house worth a quarter of a million doesn't always mean much.

shuggles · 15/09/2024 17:50

@Leah5678 I've just read all the ops updates and it doesn't say whether she is single or not.

Right, there's no indication of a partner, so it would be fair to assume that she has been given that house for herself.

TheHateIsNotGood · 15/09/2024 17:53

Are you not brave enough to openly shame her both to her face and on her 'socials'?

Leah5678 · 15/09/2024 17:59

shuggles · 15/09/2024 17:50

@Leah5678 I've just read all the ops updates and it doesn't say whether she is single or not.

Right, there's no indication of a partner, so it would be fair to assume that she has been given that house for herself.

God knows really the op is so vague. I'm just saying before I saw it had five bedrooms I don't think living in a 250k house is a big deal.

There's lots of people living in all kinds of arrangements people who locked into fixed rate mortgages years ago paying tiny amounts and some of my friends live in three bedroom houses and pay half the rent I pay for my bed apartment because theirs is owned by the council.

I gave up discussing how much we spend a month on rent/ mortgage a long time ago because it just annoys me for that reason 🤣

Todaysbetterthanyesterday · 15/09/2024 18:08

lol 1/4 mil house 🏠 is nothing outlandish.

HVfan · 20/10/2024 03:06

Bbttrr · 13/09/2024 22:19

NC as outing.

Friend "A" is working cash in hand whilst claiming benefits. Flaunts her outings, holidays, purchases etc online constantly. Openly advertises her cash in hand work on social media. Claims a healthy sum each month in benefits whilst living in a 1/4+ mil house.

Would IBU to report her?

How in H would you know if she isn’t charging up a hefty sum?

RedWinePoliticsAndHair · 20/10/2024 03:44

Nah, keep your side of the road clean. If she's as dodgy as you say, she will get found out soon enough.

Also, a £250,000 house being described as "a quarter of a mil" is highly disingenuous. By that reckoning I live in a "half a mil house"... which is just an average mid terrace in a London borough. Do you write headlines for The S*n, because that's what your writing style sounds like.

Unlucky123 · 10/12/2024 22:27

No wonder OP left the chat, opinions can become out of hand

Maybe OP has known this person for years, had a great ten years of friendship but are growing apart, most folk use friend loosely these days anyway

The cost of the house is irrelevant, also the cost of a house is not the same across the UK, if you can navigate to mumsnet you can navigate to rightmove to check

Maybe the benefit fraudster has told OP she is claiming and working off the books

While how people live is not your business, do you feel happy paying your taxes which fraudsters benefit from

That money could be spent elsewhere

Mayb the fraudster brags and puts others down thinking they are superior to tax payers and can do what they want, so needs knocking down a peg or two

People say mind your business, but if a neighbour you call a friend started abusing their dog, would you still mind your own business

Its a difficult desision

And i think you shouldnt be in that posistion in the first place, if more checks were done with claimers then people wouldnt commit fraud (as much)

Most working class cannot afford luxurys so to see you are paying for their holidays, you may aswell give them some spening money too

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