The British Embassy in Madrid website, 'UK in Spain' published an article today confirming that UK Benefit Fraud investigators have recently enjoyed more success in the fight against benefit cheats in Spain.
In one of the latest cases to go to prosecution, Debbie Williamson from Rotherham was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to 18 months immediate imprisonment for having stolen UK benefits between 2004 and 2009. Ms Williamson had been claiming a number of non-exportable benefits from the UK, including income support. She denied having any connection with Spain, but investigators established she owned property in Valencia, had made regular cash withdrawals abroad and had her daughter in a local Spanish school. In total Ms. Williamson stole £42,558.72 from the British taxpayer by claiming benefits she was not entitled to after her circumstances changed.
The full article can be read here: More success against the benefit cheats in Spain.
This is excellent news.
Showing posts with label Benefit Thieves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benefit Thieves. Show all posts
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
New Year crackdown on expat benefit fraud by DWP
We read in the Telegraph the announcement by the Department for Works and Pensions that there is to be a New Year crackdown on benefit fraud by UK expatriates.
Now don't get me wrong, as I abhor any form of theft, which benefit fraud is, but haven't we had several previous announcements by the DWP about stopping the expatriate fraudsters. I seem to recall that there have been reports that the current campaigns are not that successful in reducing the burden on the tax payer as the schemes campaigns cost more to administrate than the refund of illegal gains by the fraudsters.
On top of this, if the chat in the bars and restaraunts here in Spain is to be believed there is a considerable reluctance within the expatriate community to report suspected thieves to the confidential telephone hotline service. Having said this there are some residents like myself who have made reports to the hotline, even though we will never know if a benefit cheat has been stopped.
Read more: New Year crackdown on expat benefit fraud - Telegraph
Now don't get me wrong, as I abhor any form of theft, which benefit fraud is, but haven't we had several previous announcements by the DWP about stopping the expatriate fraudsters. I seem to recall that there have been reports that the current campaigns are not that successful in reducing the burden on the tax payer as the schemes campaigns cost more to administrate than the refund of illegal gains by the fraudsters.
On top of this, if the chat in the bars and restaraunts here in Spain is to be believed there is a considerable reluctance within the expatriate community to report suspected thieves to the confidential telephone hotline service. Having said this there are some residents like myself who have made reports to the hotline, even though we will never know if a benefit cheat has been stopped.
Read more: New Year crackdown on expat benefit fraud - Telegraph
Saturday, 25 April 2009
UK Benefit Thieves in Spain - Beware!
It is good news that the Department for Work and Pensions has decided to extended its benefit cheats hotline to cover the Costa del Sol and Canary Islands. It was first launched in Alicante as a pilot scheme on 25 September 2008 and now covers two other popular UK Ex-pat destinations.
The Spanish benefit fraud hotline number is 900 554 440. It is free and confidential and operates from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
To support this extension of the hotline a publicity campaign, ‘We’re closing in’, in the local ex-pat media is raising awareness of the hotline as well as a dedicated web site at www.dwp.gov.uk/benefit-thieves-spain which provides more detail on what constitutes benefit fraud along with an on line reporting form.where suspected British benefit thieves living abroad can be reported on-line.
The total cost of benefit fraud committed by UK benefit recipients living in or travelling to countries abroad is an estimated £63 million a year. It involves a range of scams such as people on means-tested benefits going abroad but failing to declare their absence, and individuals working while claiming sickness benefits.
Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Tony McNulty said:
“We are absolutely determined to stop benefit thieves stealing from the British taxpayer. Our commitment extends beyond the borders of the UK. Even in sunny Spain, we’re closing in on benefit fraud.”
Unfortunately from my experience talking with numerous residents and visitors there is a reluctance on the part of many of the law-abiding UK ex-pats here in Spain to use the hotline to report suspected parasitic benefit thieves because it is not thought of as the 'done thing',and besides it is seen as 'cheating' rather than what it is, theft. I have no problem with using the hotline, a thief is a thief.
What also has to be taken into consideration is that generally these same thieves are working as part of the black economy in Spain and more often or not are driving around in old UK registered vehicles that are illegal, without insurance, road tax or MOT certificate (they probably didn't have these when the vehicle was in the UK).
The Spanish benefit fraud hotline number is 900 554 440. It is free and confidential and operates from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
To support this extension of the hotline a publicity campaign, ‘We’re closing in’, in the local ex-pat media is raising awareness of the hotline as well as a dedicated web site at www.dwp.gov.uk/benefit-thieves-spain which provides more detail on what constitutes benefit fraud along with an on line reporting form.where suspected British benefit thieves living abroad can be reported on-line.
The total cost of benefit fraud committed by UK benefit recipients living in or travelling to countries abroad is an estimated £63 million a year. It involves a range of scams such as people on means-tested benefits going abroad but failing to declare their absence, and individuals working while claiming sickness benefits.
Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Tony McNulty said:
“We are absolutely determined to stop benefit thieves stealing from the British taxpayer. Our commitment extends beyond the borders of the UK. Even in sunny Spain, we’re closing in on benefit fraud.”
Unfortunately from my experience talking with numerous residents and visitors there is a reluctance on the part of many of the law-abiding UK ex-pats here in Spain to use the hotline to report suspected parasitic benefit thieves because it is not thought of as the 'done thing',and besides it is seen as 'cheating' rather than what it is, theft. I have no problem with using the hotline, a thief is a thief.
What also has to be taken into consideration is that generally these same thieves are working as part of the black economy in Spain and more often or not are driving around in old UK registered vehicles that are illegal, without insurance, road tax or MOT certificate (they probably didn't have these when the vehicle was in the UK).
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