Guidance on Making a Fraud Referral
These guidance notes are aimed at letting you know the type of information
to supply when you are making an allegation of Housing/Council Tax Benefit fraud. It will help us build
up a wider picture of the case, the investigator will go on to obtain any evidence required to prove/disprove
the allegation, from what you tell us.
All information will
be treated in the strictest confidence. You are not required to leave your name.
- Source
of referral – how do you know about the allegation?
Full
name and address of the alleged claimant [or as much information as possible].
- Age
and date of birth if known, if not an approximate age.
- Full description of claimant.
- Nature
of allegation.
When obtaining details of dates/period of
time etc key dates are often helpful.
Ask the question “what
makes you think it was this date?”
If there are approximate
dates, was it before/after Christmas, summer holidays, since birth of child etc.
Living
Together / Non Dependants / Lodgers
Full description/distinguishing
features – Key questions
- Name.
- Height.
- Size/weight?
- Hair type, length, colour, style etc.
- Ethnicity?
- Glasses/beard/moustache/complexion?
- Body
piercing/tattoos?
- Walks with a limp/uses a walking stick?
- Style
of dress – i.e. always wears a tracksuit and baseball cap.
- Ask person whom he looks
like – “Does this person remind you of anybody”
When did
he/she move in? How long has he/she been there?
- Use key dates.
- Does he/she live there permanently?
- Just a couple of nights
per week? Which nights? How do they know?
- Does he/she have another address? If so, what is the address?
- Is this other address parents or friends?
Does
alleged partner/non-dependant have a vehicle?
- Make/Model?
- Colour?
- Full
or partial Registration Number (if known)?
- Where is the vehicle usually parked?
Does
the claimant or alleged partner work?
- Yes – Refer to undeclared
work.
- No – Refer to undeclared Income/Benefit/Capital.
Additional
Information
- Leisure Time – have they been on holiday?
- When
& where?
- What do they do at the weekend/nights out/shopping?
- Are
they in together most evenings? If so, what time i.e. after 6pm?
- Joint finances - Purchased new furniture? Home improvements? Cars?
- Children – names/parental responsibility (i.e. is the alleged
partner the father?)
- Who takes children to/from school? Which school? Times?
- Do
most people/family view them as a couple?
Undeclared Work
- Who
is working?
- How long have they been working? Use key dates.
- Details of employer? Name & address?
- Does
he/she wear a uniform/work clothes?
- How long has he/she worked
there?
- How does he/she get to/from work? Is there a company vehicle? If so, make,
model, colour & registration?
- Time of work/shift pattern?
- What
job do they do?
Undeclared Income / Benefit / Capital / Property
What
is not being declared?
- E.G. Maintenance? Who pays it? How is it paid? Details of child?
- Benefit? E.g. Incapacity benefit – if so, what is wrong with him/her? Details of disability.
- Capital?
Name of Bank/building society/stocks/shares.
- Private pension? Name of pension provider
i.e. Prudential or alternatively where did they used to work?
- Details of any second property – address?
- How long have they
owned it? Use key dates.
- Details of any joint owners.
Not
Residing at Property
Address and details of property
- Is
the property unoccupied?
- Is it furnished/unfurnished?
- How long
as it been empty? When did he/she leave? Use key dates.
- Did the claimant ever move
into the property?
- If the claimant has absconded – any forwarding address?
- Has
the claimant sub-let to 3rd party?
- Details of 3rd party – including any previous
address if known.
Private rented?
- Name
of Landlord?
- Does the Landlord know the property is empty? If so, how?
- Has
Landlord been to the property? If so, when?
This list is for guidance only it is not exhaustive,
we don’t expect you to have all the answers either, but the more information you can give the better.
If you would like more information, please contact the HB Counter Fraud Team on, the fraud hotline number 0161 770 4969.
If you would like to report
someone who resides outside the Oldham area, please ring the free phone number on 0800
328 6340 or write
to:
P.O. Box 647,
Preston,
PR1
1WA