3 October 2005 - Hard hitting benefit fraud ads warn of relentless crackdown
Radio ads will bring silence to British airwaves today as benefit cheats are warned of a different kind of fraud investigator, working so quietly they won’t hear them coming.
The chilling adverts warn listeners that these investigators “work relentlessly, never take a day off and don’t even sleep.” They describe powerful computer systems that help identify fraudsters by constantly cross-referencing information across government departments.
The 40 second clips mark a step up in the Department for Work and Pensions campaign, which has already helped cut fraud in income support and jobseekers allowance in half since 1998.
Anti-Fraud Minister James Plaskitt said:
“Robocop was Hollywood fiction, but using technology to catch benefit cheats is now a fact. We are uncovering fraud earlier and in the last year 53 million pounds of taxpayer’s money was recovered in this way.
“The campaign is also about deterring potential fraudsters with the warning – you may not hear them, but our computers will find you.”
The techniques used by the DWP to fight benefit fraud include scanning data sources like those held by the Inland Revenue to check for inconsistencies. This pinpoints people who falsely claim benefits despite being registered for work. Investigators also have the power to check bills and bank accounts.
Recent figures show that fraud in Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance is currently at its lowest level ever recorded.
Mr Plaskitt added:
“We have had real success in tackling benefit fraud but we are not complacent. Fraud is a crime and we will continue to develop new methods to combat it.”
Notes to editors
- The radio adverts will run until 6th November 05. TV and local press adverts can also be seen as part of the Targeting Benefit Fraud campaign.
- The National Benefit Fraud Hotline number is 0800 854 440. Lines are open between 7am and 11pm seven days a week or you can report a cheat online via: www.targetingbenefitfraud.gov.uk
- Latest regional figures (April 03 - March 04) for fraud:
Region Cost in £ millions Equivalent in doctors Equivalent in nurses Equivalent in police North East 28 405 903 640 North West 50 724 1612 1144 Yorkshire 31 449 1000 709 East Midlands 15 217 483 343 West Midlands 30 434 967 686 East England 18 260 580 411 London 77 1115 2483 1762 South East 68 985 2193 1556 South West 19 275 612 434 Wales 19 275 612 434 Scotland 42 608 1354 961 - The Department for Work and Pensions has targets to reduce fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance by 33 per cent by March 2004 and by 50 per cent by March 2006. The department also has a target to reduce fraud and error in Housing Benefit by 25 per cent by March 2006.
- DWP, in partnership with local authorities, is carrying out more prosecutions and sanctions against fraudsters than ever before – in 2003/04 there were almost 40,000 prosecutions and sanctions. The Fraud Act 2001 gave fraud investigators more powers to catch and punish offenders, including greater powers to check records with other organisations.
- The new Targeting Fraud campaign was launched in June 2003 with the slogan “We’re on to you.” It features a sinister spotlight that follows fraudsters as they work, to warn potential cheats the Department knows when and where people try to commit benefit fraud.
For more information contact Kathy Barlow (020 7238 0766), Jessica
Bates (020 7238 0762) or Madeleine Jamieson (0207
238 0723)
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Websites: www.dwp.gov.uk
www.targetingfraud.gov.uk