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21/01/2004
Conviction warning for benefits fraudsters
The government have claimed a victory today in the fight against benefits fraud following the conviction of a 41-year-old man at Luton Crown.
David Thompson, 41, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to four and a half years at Luton Crown Court for his part in a scam to steal public money by presenting counterfeit giros at post offices. Thompson himself stole £78,000 of public money.
New TV adverts in the latest phase of the Targeting Benefit Fraud campaign started this week as investigators busted a fraud gang who may have netted up to £3 million from the public purse.
Surveillance by DWP investigators trapped Thompson, who tried to deny his crimes, but a search of his home uncovered a "cheat's kit" including counterfeit giro cheques and a counterfeit driving licence.
Anti-fraud Minister Chris Pond welcomed the result, saying: "Benefit fraud leaves a trail that DWP investigators can follow, just as they did in this case. The sentence shows that benefit fraud is a serious crime - we know it, the public knows it and now the cheats know it too.
"Our new adverts aim to reach not just the fraudsters who may recognise themselves but also people who might know someone who is committing fraud.
The government has set itself a goal of cutting fraud in the main benefits in half by 2006. In 2002/03 there were over 32,000 prosecutions and sanctions.
The new TV adverts, launched this week by the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to get the message across that the department now has more information about where people try to commit fraud and greater powers to stop them.
The National Benefit Fraud Hotline number is 0800 854 440, lines are open between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
The Department for Work and Pensions has targets to reduce fraud and error in Income Support (IS) and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) by 33% by March 2004 and by 50% by March 2006. So far the department has cut fraud ad error in IS and JSA by 26%. The department also has a target to reduce fraud and error in Housing Benefit by 25% by March 2006.
(gmcg)
David Thompson, 41, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to four and a half years at Luton Crown Court for his part in a scam to steal public money by presenting counterfeit giros at post offices. Thompson himself stole £78,000 of public money.
New TV adverts in the latest phase of the Targeting Benefit Fraud campaign started this week as investigators busted a fraud gang who may have netted up to £3 million from the public purse.
Surveillance by DWP investigators trapped Thompson, who tried to deny his crimes, but a search of his home uncovered a "cheat's kit" including counterfeit giro cheques and a counterfeit driving licence.
Anti-fraud Minister Chris Pond welcomed the result, saying: "Benefit fraud leaves a trail that DWP investigators can follow, just as they did in this case. The sentence shows that benefit fraud is a serious crime - we know it, the public knows it and now the cheats know it too.
"Our new adverts aim to reach not just the fraudsters who may recognise themselves but also people who might know someone who is committing fraud.
The government has set itself a goal of cutting fraud in the main benefits in half by 2006. In 2002/03 there were over 32,000 prosecutions and sanctions.
The new TV adverts, launched this week by the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to get the message across that the department now has more information about where people try to commit fraud and greater powers to stop them.
The National Benefit Fraud Hotline number is 0800 854 440, lines are open between 7am and 11pm seven days a week.
The Department for Work and Pensions has targets to reduce fraud and error in Income Support (IS) and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) by 33% by March 2004 and by 50% by March 2006. So far the department has cut fraud ad error in IS and JSA by 26%. The department also has a target to reduce fraud and error in Housing Benefit by 25% by March 2006.
(gmcg)
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