Council’s Cracking Down On Fraud

Council’s Cracking Down On Fraud

More than £412,000 worth of fraud was detected by Wealden District Council’s investigations team last year with some 69 referrals investigated by the team during 2018/19 resulting in 38 fraud cases.

In some fraud cases, the attempted fraud was stopped, whilst in other cases, efforts are now being made to recuperate all the outstanding money which is due to Wealden District Council.

Cases uncovered by the counter fraud unit were fraudulent right-to-buy claims for council-owned properties, in one case, a purchase was wrongly being funded by property management company.

Cllr Bob Standley, cabinet member for finance, speaking about the crackdown, says: “Prevention is an important part of the work we do in combating fraud. We do rely on information from the public when they suspect fraud involving taxpayers’ money is taking place.”

For more information about reporting benefit fraud to Wealden District Council, visit: www.wealden.gov.uk and search benefit fraud, or call: 0800 731 7039.