Getting results
We have a team of dedicated fraud investigators who work right across Northern Ireland.
Benefit Fraud
Benefit Fraud investigators are highly trained in all aspects of fraud and have 'Professionalism in Security' training which is a nationally-accredited qualification.
In the 12 months from April 2008 to March 2009:
- 4258 investigations were carried out.
- as a result 2153 benefit payments were changed . These changes identified £9.7 million incorrectly paid.
During the same period
- 522 cases were referred to the Public Prosecution Service to consider taking court proceedings;
- 262 people received an administrative penalty (similar to a fine);
- 63 people were given a formal caution; and
422 people were successfully prosecuted. Sentences included monetary fines, suspended prison sentences community service and custodial sentences
Cheque Payment Fraud
We have a dedicated team that carries out investigations when it is suspected that a person has cashed a cheque payment which they have either stolen or received and reported as stolen.
In the 12 months from April 2008 to March 2009, this team recorded 2074 duplicate payments with a total value of £258,000. During the same period
- 103 cases were referred to the Public Prosecution Service to consider taking court proceedings;
- 41 people were given a formal caution;
- 9 people received an administrative penalty
- 74 people were successfully prosecuted. Sentences included monetary fines, suspended prison sentences and community service.
Repayment
In all cases, those found guilty of benefit and cheque fraud are required to repay the amount of money they fraudulently obtained.
Financial Investigations
In cases of serious benefit fraud, our Financial Investigation Unit uses powers granted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to trace and recover money that was fraudulently obtained. These include the power to ask the Court to grant confiscation orders against and to freeze the assets of the person convicted of benefit fraud until the money is repaid. The unit was set up in 2005, and we recently announced that we had recovered in excess of £1million from benefit fraudsters using these powers. The message is that benefit crime does not pay.
Detection of Benefit Fraud
Our investigators have a variety of tools and powers at their disposal to help them detect benefit fraud. These include:
- The wide use of Data Matching, both between our own computer systems and with those of other Government departments, eg HMRC. For more information, read our Data Sharing Strategy and Catalogue
- The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 which allows investigators to conduct covert surveillance on suspected fraudsters.
- Powers introduced by the Social Security Fraud Act (NI) 2001 which require third parties, such as banks, credit card companies, utility companies and educational establishments, to provide information that could help detect benefit fraud when requested to do so by investigators.
- Co-operation with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Social and Family Affairs to reduce the opportunities for and to detect cross border fraud.
- The increased use of intelligence and analysis to identify fraud trends which allows us to effectively focus resources on those areas most at risk to fraud.
Fraud costs
It is your money that is being stolen and with your help it can be prevented reduced and recovered.
Remember – “beating fraud is everyone’s business”
Help us to protect your money.
If you have any information
Call the Fraud Hotline: 0800 975 6050