AIBU to consider reporting someone I believe is committing benefit fraud?

[Hereforadviceee]

Would you report someone for benefit fraud?

Just that. It’s someone I used to know quite well but drifted apart from mainly due to this and from time to time I feel angry that they have made a living out of coning the system and quite often people around them. They claim they can’t walk or leave the house but go to at least 6 countries a year and do a mix of sports regularly they post online.

It hits a nerve as a lot of my family members are genuinely disabled and have struggled to get the right support. This person doesn’t have to pay council tax has every benefit you can think of and will literally use a wheelchair whenever their pip stops then go back to the sports and hiking holidays they do regular whilst claiming they can’t work and they even have been awarded carers to come in and help them. I’ve known this person for nearly 2 decades and they started this in their teens and would often brag about it and how to do it and even helped other friends at the time get awarded benefits so it’s not a case I don’t know them enough to know it’s bullshit. I always thought they would grow out of it as their life progressed.

I don’t think I actually will mainly because I’m so worried they would guess it was me and they are known to be very vindictive such as reporting people to social services or emailing job places to try ‘ ruin people ‘but I guess I’d like to vent as myself and so many people work their socks off to break even each month.

That’s the thing they will state they cannot walk more than a few metres unaided and it’s just not true.

Not if they say they can't leave the house. That's lying.

I really do not. Sigh But we do have the same circle of friends, that happens in life. I will leave this here now.

Have you ever considered telling your friends you dont wish to hear about this person and maybe talk about shared interests rather than gossiping and tracking this person? You stopped being friends for a reason so maybe detach yourself from their life and you might stop obsessing about them so much.
And stay off their social media so you dont get yourself so worked up.

I would just leave it. Just get on with your own life.

Report her and don't give it a second thought.

Would you have all this angst if you saw someone robbing a charity collection box, stealing a car or nicking a ring someone had left by the side of a public sink?

She's a thief, report her.

She will either be punished, discovered to be virtue affronted or get round it. The process and outcome will have nothing to do with you .

Anyone who "flames" you on this board is either a sandwich short of a moral picnic or at the same game themselves. Pay them no heed.

This lady hasn’t spoken to her for a couple of years, she may not know if circumstances have changed. You can’t just report people without facts and evidence for all this lady knows her circumstances have changed and her claim isn’t the same, it’s very stressful for people who are falsely accused of things, and then are investigated. You need hard evidence and facts first before doing this because this is someone’s money and life your potentially messing with.

I disagree.

The OP has strong suspicions and that's enough.

It's not her job to gather evidence, that's the job of the people she will report to.

That's how it works...we suspect someone has committed a crime-fraud, theft, rape, murder and we report them to the authorities who will investigate,

If we all sat around waiting, channelling Miss Marple, until we were 100% sure, there there would be no need for official investigations.

If a member of the public has a strong suspicion that a crime is being committed then they are duty bound to report it for investigation, not carry out an investigation themselves.

The bigger picture for me here is that if she’s wrong and this lady has all her money stopped while she’s being investigated then how is she meant to eat? Pay her bills? All because of a suspicion. Too many people do this, either out of spite or because of suspicions then the person on the other end is subjected to unnecessary stress and worry. No it’s not her job to gather evidence but at least have some sort of proof and evidence for such a big accusation and suspicion at least.

Last time it was cut she was worried how she would afford her skinny jabs and personal trainer not her bills.

@Blackwidowsbite What if she's right! What if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle!

What if, what if!

It's attitudes like yours-the what iffers-that allows crimes to happen.

Accusing someone we suspect of a crime might be stressful for them, so don't accuse anyone unless we saw them with their hand in the till. No wonder criminals have the upper hand.

What if the OP is right -and she does have strong suspicions-and this woman is a thief, a fraudster. Think on that and act accordingly, I say!

If you have good cause to be suspicious that a crime, any crime, has been committed, report to the relevant authorities and don't be so weak as to think you won't because it might cause stress!

FYI Everyone on benefits pay council tax, albeit a reduced amount. I’m disabled and on benefits and pay council tax. Please don’t assume this person doesn’t without evidence

People absolutely can get this care. It's not always easy but it is possible.

I believe she has fictitious disorder. An yes I worked as a Pa/carer on a self employed bases and you can get funded then privately arrange what you wish.

Oh no not by some of the posters on here. It’s all assumptions and suspicions lol 😂 so they will just report you straight away not knowing the full picture first but because they assume you don’t then that’s enough for you to be a criminal.

Read it. Look at the pictures. She was filmed running a marathon and at the gym.

A bloke who lived near me was like this. Apparently he could hardly leave the house due to a bad back, ( despite coaching a kids weekend football team).
Someone took a picture of him on his roof putting up his Christmas lights so that put a stop to that.

Attitudes like mine? 🤣 I’m simply stating the facts of what it might be like on the other side of false allegations if that was the case here, the impact it can have on someone’s life and finances. I don’t know why you’re getting out of your pram about it? Calm down.

@Blackwidowsbite. Absolutely! Don’t let the truth get in the way of prejudice 😂

If you aren’t going to do it, after asking if YABU, and receiving all these supportive comments & guidances, then I won’t bother reading more than the initial posts where this was established.

IMO you are at least partially liable for her cheating, because you know about and are doing nothing. Thanks for helping to waste my taxes.

(FWIW I am disabled too. My life has gone to s**t.)

Are you a man @Blackwidowsbite -they are usually the ones who tell women to calm down?

Perfectly calm just happen to disagree with you.

Pity you can't put together a cogent defence and resort to "calm down." Always the last hole of a man or someone who can't respond or...both.

Off to work now.

You read my posts.

Op is claiming her friend filmed herself fake falling over and used this to claim disability benefits.

I'm not disputing video evidence can be used to prove fraud.
I'm disputing the DWP would watch a self made video of you falling over and used that as proof you can't walk and grant benefits.

Op. If you are not her doctor/consultant, nor the DWP staff member dealing with her, keep your nose out.

You got me 🤔after you posted about carers coming in. This care is not given easily by ss unless she pays.

Lmao another assumption!!! Stereotyping me because I said calm down. 🤣 I’ve put on a defense though haven’t I? This comment is exactly why assumptions and suspicions aren’t always enough, proof and evidence is especially when your about to mess up someones finances and life.