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Benefit Fraud

Benefit Fraud

Benefit thieves cost the public millions of pounds in stolen benefits. If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can see how to report them and stop them taking money from the people who need it most. Colchester Borough Council check benefit claims to make sure public money goes to people who need it. The information given to support a benefit claim is examined by the authority to make sure it's correct.

Benefit fraud occurs when someone is dishonest in order to receive benefit or doesn't report a change in their circumstances when they know they should. This includes people who don't report or declare

  • their savings or don't declare the right amount of savings
  • they're going abroad, living abroad, or have changed address
  • they're living with a partner or that their partner has started work

....Or that they've

  • started work or started to earn money
  • inherited money

Report a Benefit Fraud

There are several ways you can report benefit fraud to the team.  You can make a report anonymously

Email              benefit.fraud@colchester.gov.uk

Text                 You can now notify us if you suspect benefit fraud by SMS text message. Text the words TELL FRAUD and then the message you want to send to 82010 (STD rate).

Telephone       Either call 0800 7311004 or Customer Services on 01206 282600

By post             PO Box 886, 33 Sheepen Road, Colchester, CO3 3WG

The law says that there has to be a good reason for investigating someone for benefit fraud - so you'll need to give as much of the following information as possible:

  • the name and address of the person you are reporting and their partner (if they have one)
  • the type of benefit theft you think they are committing and why you suspect them

...And information about

  • their employer if you think they are working
  • information about their vehicle if they have one
  • what the person looks like
  • the other people who live in the house

Checks on a Claim  Checks can be made by Colchester Borough Council at any time - not just when a claim is first made. Sometimes a check is made on everyone getting a certain benefit or on a particular group of people who claim it. The team often carries out random checks to make sure the information they hold is correct.

 It helps limit benefit fraud by making sure the information is up to date and correct and by cooperating when checks are made.

If benefit officers believe your claim is fraudulent, or information is received suggesting possible fraud, Investigators will look at it in more detail. They may gather information about you and family members then compare it with information already given on claim forms or in interviews.

Fraud Investigators may contact private and other public organisations that hold information on you including:

  • credit providers
  • banks
  • building societies
  • credit card companies
  • money transmission companies
  • insurance companies
  • credit reference agencies
  • education providers
  • water, gas and electricity providers
  • telecoms companies including mobile phone companies
  • the Student Loans Company
  • government agencies including HMRC
  • overseas authorities