How to actually get authorities to take action on benefit frauds

[Hattieandcake]

Examples reported and nothing done -

• someone taking cash in hand for dogs - evidence sent online of cash only sales and also including social media showing lifestyle and purchase
• someone who is lying that they are single having a partner living at their government address with ring footage available that they live their permanently - also taking cash in hand jobs - evident on footage
• someone putting their SAHM wife on payroll to reduce income claimed - no work done for the business

These are only 2 of many and nothing is done, I am sick to death of it.

Can you count? You listed three things.

It is quite legal to accept cash in payments, have you seen their books?

available that they live their permanently - also taking cash in hand jobs - evident on footage you mean live THERE

My mother was a SAHM but she worked for my Dad's business, she did the books, took calls, discussed the business with him. Also how does this reduce, 'income claimed'?

Maybe move the log out of your eye.

Nosey neighbours can be a pain, I run my business as a tradesman from home - someone reported that I was putting out trade waste to the council and that I was putting out an extra bin!!.

Problem was they didn't know I have a trade waste bin, which I pay for - the clue might be the "trade waste" logo on it, but ho hum - chap from the council thought it was funny!

Ah fraud - the only crime Mumsnet condones..It must be rife here.

If your neighbour was walking into Tesco every week and shoplifting £100 of groceries, you’d be horrified.

But not paying tax on your earnings, employing nail technicians for cash-in-hand jobs, claiming benefits you shouldn’t? Crack on and the rest of us taxpayers should mind our own business.

This is a really odd take. Fraud is a complex Crime and to pretend the public are experts in it in the same way they can identify shoplifting is disingenuous.

i was on a jury for a fraud case- import export. It was so complex that the jurors couldn’t follow it at all, and as a professional in this area I can also acknowledge how complex and difficult to understand it was.

would you consider reporting every import exporter you are aware of? Try and work out from watching their warehouse what’s going on? Of course not, you’re clueless, as OP is clueless about her neighbours. It’s nothing like shoplifting.

I think many of you who legitimately and legally handle cash are missing the point.

I’ve had builders give me lower quotes for cash jobs, and we all know businesses that bend the rules. I can’t prove anytime bar a love of cash but let’s face it, they give cash businesses a bad rep.

The thing is, you kind of never know what is going on behind closed door. Someone who may seem wealthy may not be. I know some vigilantes who abuse people who park in disabled bays because the drivers "Dont look disabled" and feel incredibly smug, and this is another example of it.
Some people abuse the tax system, but the total amount of frauds is nowhere like big companies not paying tax at all. It''s easier to nab Helen who moved in her partner to be able to survive but claims single occupancy over some Dick who puts all hismoney in an offshore account, I get it. But it's like Kirsty Slop going after Michael Rosen trying to renew his Freedom Pass.

I’ve never reported anyone for fraud @Itsmetheflamingo because I wouldn’t even know how and can’t prove anything, even if I was inclined. I don’t even know anyone on benefits (other than pension?) so can’t comment on that at all.

But some types of fraud exists because we enable it. Paying cash in hand for a discount in the trades is likely one of those and I’ve my fair share of offers.

🙄

You're an MN poster though are you not?

Yes but still nothing like ignoring shoplifting right? You said fraud was the only crime Mumsnet condones

I am. But dont have the notion that all benefit claimants are poor and down trodden who have no option other than to defraud the systems in place. But I know I'm the exception rather than the norm on MN.

Completely missing the point.
Poor example

Yep. Mumsnet does seem to be a place where benefit fraud and tax evasion are acceptable - except on a thread where someone discusses whether they can do it. So it's not okay to commit fraud but it's even more not okay to report it if you see it happening.
I've seen it a lot - friends who are SAHPs and put on partner's payroll, freely admitting they do nothing, it's for tax purposes. And at work, benefit claimants supplying incorrect information or not updating changes of circumstances. We warn them that is fraud and of the potential consequences but that is all we can do.

And the answer to why more is not done is probably because it's not cost effective to investigate the small guys.
So many reports are likely to just be - he/she said, plus indications of a wealthier lifestyle than could be expected. To probe thay requires a lot of time.

It’s not mumsnet then is it? It’s society in general, of which Mn is a reflection

Yes.

You’ll get lots of defensive responses OP from posters who are no doubt on the fiddle or playing the system themselves. They want people to be shamed into not reporting wrong doing.

People convicted of benefit fraud should be banned from claiming benefits for ten years. People convicted twice should be banned from claiming benefits (including the state pension) for LIFE.

And how do they buy food and pay for electric then?

I think you'll find that was sarcasm...

I've been a benefits casework specialist for 12 years. The demographic of MN may be what you say it is, who knows? However its not my experience of hundreds of cases over the years.

Well, this thread will be useful for a criminal prosecution.

It documents the OP's stalking and harassment of their neighbour, so it should be a fairly short trial when combined with evidence from the housing provider and two years' worth of Ring footage.

I was reported. By my ex’s new partner. For disability benefit fraud.

the reason being that I have a BB so she assumed I was getting pip (I am) and so she reported me for pip fraud. Because I work.

I'd like to know how these fraudulent PIP claimants get the medical evidence needed to support a PIP application.

Are they all lying to their doctors in order to get evidence or what?

I’d like to know too. I had reams of evidence. Got completely refused and then at MR got high rate mobility low rate care.