Shameless fraudsters have been using Photoshop in a bid to claim benefits in Britain while living aboard - as part of a multi-million pound scam.
One man was asked to take a photograph of himself by his front door after the DWP became suspicious that he was claiming benefits in the UK while living abroad....it's the DWP 'workers' who consider a photo of someone standing by a front door as any sort of 'evidence'!
The DWP told MailOnline they saw a surge in Universal Credit claims when the pandemic hit with more people needing support.
However, this caused an increase in fraudulent claims - partly driven by gangs seeking to take 'advantage' of a relaxation of the rules on applications.
Another thing to blame on the Covid hysterics and the government's reaction to it...
However, claims for applicants who were considered vulnerable were not blocked.
Of course!
OT - Happy Birthday, Julia.
ReplyDeleteThey always blame this stuff on gangs. I don't believe it. I think the British public are quite capeable of working out how easy fraud is and quite dishonest enough to go for it
ReplyDeleteThat was a sweeping generalisation, wasn't it? I was of course just refering to the benefit classes
ReplyDeleteShirley, a photo of the applicant holding the latest edition of that week's local newspaper would be an easier method of checking validity of an address? Or, a check on the electoral roll?
ReplyDeletePenseivat
Call me reactionary but ...
ReplyDeleteI don’t think ‘anyone’ “living abroad” should be getting ‘any’ benefits (This isn’t a pension someone worked a lifetime for (the typical ‘abortion after rape/incest’ straw-man argument), we are talking about here).
I was under the impression that benefits were a “safety net” for those 'in the country' unable to support themselves, not a comfortable income for those well enough off that they can afford to live ‘in another country’ (you leave you aren’t our problem, your choice). (That’s assuming that those doing so are even British anyway, not those ‘returning home’ and continuing to claim, as most are).
But then I don’t think anyone who hasn’t paid into the system should get anything out either.
I always find it amazing, the double-standards and mental-gymnastics required by the usual suspects who fund anyone and everyone ‘but’ the needy and deserving … here (much preferring to donate, your money, to fund a Nigerian scam orphanage, or an ex-pat in their villa, rather than the granny/grandad freezing next-door).
People (but especially those in power) Suck!
"OT - Happy Birthday, Julia."
ReplyDeleteThanks! It wasn't a very good one, sadly, after losing my beloved cat to a neurological issue on the Friday. But I really appreciate the kind wishes.
"They always blame this stuff on gangs. I don't believe it."
Maybe they don't want people to realise just how easy it is?
"Shirley, a photo of the applicant holding the latest edition of that week's local newspaper..."
But then they'd have to employ DWP staff who could read English...
"I was under the impression that benefits were a “safety net” for those 'in the country' ..."
I think we all thought that at one time, didn't we? How wrong we were.