Report a fraud
Fraud costs local tax payers millions of pounds each year. This prevents public money from going to the places that need it most and improving your community.
According to the latest government figures, fraud is increasing, so we need your help to tackle this.
All benefit fraud reports are now investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Types of fraud
- Housing
- Internal
- Procurement
- Business rates
- Council Tax/Council Tax Reduction
- Disabled Persons' Blue Badge
- Social care
- Schools
- Corporate
Housing fraud
Housing fraud costs the taxpayer around £1.8 million a year nationally and deprives people in genuine need of affordable homes.
Examples of housing fraud include:
- Sub-letting a council house
- Not living in a council house and leaving it empty
- Making a fraudulent Right to Buy application
- Providing false or misleading information to get a council house
Internal fraud
Internal fraud relates to staff and services.
Examples of internal fraud include:
- Employees working whilst signed off for medical reasons
- False time accounting
Procurement fraud
Procurement fraud is estimated to cost local councils millions of pounds each year and believed to be one of the top three fraud risk areas.
Examples of procurement fraud include:
- Bribery and corruption
- Suppliers not fulfilling a contract
- Cartels and bid-rigging.
Business rates fraud
Business rates fraud can prevent vital revenue coming into the authority.
Examples of business rates fraud include:
- False applications for rates relief
- False applications for Charity relief
Council Tax/Council Tax reduction fraud
Council tax fraud costs around £60 million a year nationally.
Examples of Council Tax fraud include:
- Claiming false discounts or exemptions
- Falsely claiming you're a student or you're living alone
- Failing to declare a change in your income
Disabled Persons' Blue Badge fraud
Blue Badge fraud costs around £46 million a year nationally.
Examples of Blue Badge fraud include:
- Use of deceased or stolen badges
- Fraudulently altered or forged badges
- Using the badge without the badge holder present.
Social care fraud
Adult social care fraud is thought to be the highest risk of fraud, costing councils millions of pounds every year.
Examples of social care fraud include:
- Exaggerating a disability or illness to receive more support
- Not declaring savings or capital in financial assessments
- Using direct payments for non-care related expenditure
- Carers claiming for hours not provided
Schools fraud
Each year, every borough we work for receives thousands of school applications - some of them are fraudulent. Fraudulent applications take school places from local children.
Examples of schools fraud include:
- Applying from an address the child doesn't live at
- Providing false information and/or documents
Corporate fraud
We take allegations of fraud against any council service seriously because it means there is less money to spend on essential services that affect the whole community.
Examples of corporate fraud include:
- Insurance fraud false claims for:
- Damage caused by pot-holes
- Personal injury
- Damage to private property
- Grant fraud
- False applications or documents provided by business and individuals
- Concretionary travel
- Fraudulently altered or forged freedom passes
Frequently asked questions
Can I remain anonymous?
Yes, you can remain anonymous. It can be very helpful to investigations if you choose to leave contact details to clarify the details you provide.
Will you tell me what’s happening?
We are unable to update you on the progress of active investigations.
What information do you need?
A description of what fraud you believe is being committed, where and by who. Details of any vehicles, address, descriptions of individuals, dates/times of incidents or any details you have will be beneficial to progress an investigation. If you do not have all these details you can still report a fraud, but the more information the better.