Report suspected fraud

How to report fraud

You can report suspected fraud quickly and easily online using our form:

Report suspected fraud online

What happens after you have reported fraud

Once we receive your fraud referral, it will be passed onto the relevant section to be investigated. Please note, we are unable to update you on the progress and outcomes of our investigations.

Types of fraud

Benefit fraud

Related benefits are:

• Housing Benefit
• Universal Credit
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Working Tax Credits

Benefit fraud includes:

• not declaring all or part of your wage or income if you are claiming Housing Benefit
• not disclosing any savings, other properties, or capital you own
• claiming to live alone when your employed partner is living with you
• not declaring other adults living in the property, including sub-tenants
• landlords claiming Housing Benefit for people who don't live in their properties

Find more information about benefit fraud at GOV.UK.

Report benefit fraud

Investigations into benefit fraud are no longer handled by the Council. They are now managed by the Single Fraud Investigation Service, a division of the Department for Work and Pensions.

When making a referral, please provide as much detail as you can.

Report benefit fraud online at GOV.UK

You can also report concerns by contacting:

• The Department for Work and Pensions National Fraud Hotline: 0800 854 440
• by post: National Benefit Fraud Hotline, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2BP

How we check the information you supply

All the information that you have supplied will be checked including:

• your income
• any capital that you have
• people who live in your household
• the amount of rent that is charged

We may visit you at home or write to you to check this information.

We may also cross check the information we hold against the information held by others such as:

• The Department for Work and Pensions
• HM Revenue and Customs
• employers
• pension providers

Blue Badge fraud

Blue Badge fraud occurs when someone misuses a Blue Badge, which is intended for disabled individuals to access parking benefits. This type of fraud can involve various deceptive practices aimed at avoiding parking charges or gaining other benefits unfairly.

Examples include:

• using a deceased person's Blue Badge
• using a Blue Badge when the holder is not present
• using a counterfeit or stolen Blue Badge
• misusing a genuine Blue Badge to avoid paying parking fees or congestion charges
• providing false information to obtain a Blue Badge

Business Rates fraud

Business Rates fraud occurs when a business provides false or misleading information to reduce or avoid paying business rates.

Examples include:

• not declaring a new business premise to avoid paying business rates
• falsely claiming small business rate relief when not eligible
• stating that a property is no longer in use to qualify for a reduction in rates
• not declaring the location of a business to avoid paying business rates
• providing incorrect information about the size or usage of the property to lower the rates

Contractor or supplier fraud

Contractor or supplier fraud involves deceitful practices by contractors or suppliers to gain an unfair advantage or financial benefit.

Examples include:

• false or inflated invoices: submitting invoices for work not performed or inflating the cost of services or materials
• duplicate invoices: submitting the same invoice multiple times to receive extra payments
• bribes and kickbacks: offering or receiving bribes to influence contract awards or execution
• collusive bidding: contractors secretly agree to submit high bids to allow a pre-selected contractor to win contracts
• misrepresentation: contractors misrepresent their qualifications or the quality of their services to secure work

Council Tax fraud

Council Tax fraud occurs when someone lies about who lives in a home or their situation to get discounts. This can include single person discount, student discount, or getting a lower bill through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Examples include:

• claiming a single person discount when others are living in the property
• not reporting a change in circumstances that affects Council Tax reduction
• falsely claiming to be a student to avoid paying Council Tax
• providing incorrect information about the property's occupancy status
• not informing the Council about a change in the number of adults living in the property

Grant claim fraud

Grant claim fraud occurs when someone misuses grant money or provides false information to obtain grants. This type of fraud can involve various deceptive practices aimed at securing funds they are not entitled to or using the funds for purposes other than those specified.

Examples include:

• using grant funds for purposes other than those specified
• submitting fake invoices or documents to support a grant claim
• creating a fake organisation solely to receive grant money
• overstating expenses or costs to receive more funding
• falsifying reports or progress updates to continue receiving grant money
• claiming grants for projects that are never actually carried out

Local authority employee fraud

Local authority employee fraud occurs when employees of a local authority abuse their position for personal gain. This type of fraud can involve various deceptive practices aimed at misusing public resources or funds.

Examples include:

• false overtime claims: claiming payment for overtime hours that were not actually worked
• misuse of resources: using Council resources, such as vehicles or equipment, for personal use
• misuse of payment cards: using payment or credit cards for unauthorised purchases
• collusion with suppliers: working with suppliers to manipulate contract awards in exchange for kickbacks
• falsifying records: altering or creating false records to cover up fraudulent activities
• theft of funds: embezzling money from Council accounts or budgets
• misrepresentation: providing false information about qualifications or experience to secure a job or promotion
• travel: claims for travel that did not take place
• recruitment: employing a family member or someone known to a member of staff without following appropriate recruitment procedures

Local authority insurance fraud

Local authority insurance fraud occurs when individuals or entities deliberately provide false or misleading information to benefit from insurance policies held by local authorities. This type of fraud can involve various deceptive practices aimed at obtaining financial gain unfairly from public funds.

Examples include:

• submitting false claims for damages or injuries that did not occur
• exaggerating the extent of damages or injuries to receive a larger payout
• staging incidents, such as fake accidents or thefts, to claim insurance money
• providing false information about the circumstances of an incident to benefit from an insurance policy
• colluding with contractors or suppliers to submit inflated or fake invoices for repairs or services

School-based fraud

School-based fraud involves deceptive practices linked to a school's activities, whether by teachers, staff, contractors, or suppliers.

Examples include:

• payroll fraud: this includes making false entries on the payroll, such as adding fictitious employees, claiming for unworked overtime, or paying inappropriate bonuses
• procurement fraud: this involves processing false invoices for goods or services not received, forging signatures, or misusing procurement cards for unauthorised purchases
• income fraud: theft of school income, such as dinner money or school funds, and unauthorised hiring out of school facilities
• payment diversion fraud: fraudsters intercept payments between parents and schools, often by compromising email systems and redirecting funds to their accounts
• recruitment: employing a family member or someone known to a member of staff without following appropriate recruitment procedures

Social care payment fraud

Social care payment fraud occurs when someone deliberately provides false or misleading information to receive more social care support than they are entitled to. This can involve various deceptive practices aimed at obtaining financial or care benefits unfairly.

Examples include:

• exaggerating a disability or care needs to receive higher payments
• using direct payments for non-care related expenses
• falsifying documents to show higher care costs than actually incurred
• not declaring additional income or savings that would affect eligibility for social care support
• claiming payments for fictitious carers or services that were never provided

Contact us

For any fraud-related matters or concerns, please contact:

• telephone: 01642 526176
• email: internalaudit@stockton.gov.uk

Find out more

• Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy 2024 (PDF, 728 KB)
• Data matching
• Scam awareness