Fraud Investigation

Their remit is underlined by the Council’s Anti-Fraud, Bribery & Corruption strategy

There is a requirement for the Council to protect the funds it administers and, in aiming to do this, data-matching exercises are regularly carried out between Council departments as well as external organisations, such as the NHS or other councils. For further information about National Fraud Investigation;

Some types of fraud that can occur are:

Council Tax Reduction / Revenue Fraud

The Council has a duty to administer a Council Tax Reduction Scheme and to ensuring that the assistance is made only to those who are actually entitled to receive it.

Council Tax Reduction Fraud/Revenue Fraud can include;

Non-disclosure of property/capital: Failing to declare savings/capital or the ownership of another property/land elsewhere.

Non-disclosure of income: Failing to declare correct income in order to increase the financial assistance provided to them.

Non-disclosure of partner (commonly known as ‘Living Together as Husband and Wife’): Failing to declare a partner living at the address, therefore, not including the partner’s income and capital in the assessment of the reduction/discount.

Non-declaration of non-dependants and/or sub-tenants: Failing to declare other adults living in the property in order to preserve entitlement to a reduction or discount.

Contrived Tenancies: Not disclosing ownership of a property and instead falsely stating payment of rent to occupy the property. This usually involves inventing a fictitious landlord. It can also involve claiming for an address at which the claimant is not living. This type of offence may occur with the collusion of the landlord or other tenants.

Failing to declare change of address: Claimant continues to receive a reduction, or discount upon their Council Tax charge for a property that they have vacated.

Cheque Fraud: Examples of this include;

• altering a cheque to increase its value
• reporting failed receipt or loss of a cheque when they have already received and presented the cheque for payment.

Other Frauds

Examples of these may include:

Housing Renovation ‘Grant’ fraud: Where a person obtains or attempts to obtain renovation work to their property, via financial assistance, whilst not disclosing their true income or facts. 

Insurance fraud: Claiming against the authority for a financial loss or accident/injury which did not occur or, was not of such a serious nature.

Direct Payment (care fee) fraud: Receiving financial assistance for the care of themselves or a relative/other person, whilst not disclosing the true financial circumstances.

If you suspect any fraudulent or improper activity in relation to the following two areas of work, you are encouraged to report your concerns via the Council's Whistleblowing arrangements:

Procurement fraud: The procuring of services to the Council which have been done scrupulously, by way of financial favour, inside knowledge, coercion or otherwise.

Employee fraud: Frauds involving Council employees against the Council e.g. theft of Council goods/services or ‘time loss’ fraud.

Report suspected fraud

To report someone who you believe is committing fraud, please complete our online form below.

You can remain anonymous should you wish, although disclosing your details may help us to follow up your report of fraud. Your details will not be disclosed to anyone else unless we have your authorisation to do so.

If you require further information please contact the Fraud Team: