Benefit Fraud Investigation

[Fullforceeventsltd]

Had a phone call today from the DWP investigating a DJ/entertainer.

Basically they phoned us on the company number as the person they are investigating apparently communicated with our company a few times via facebook and liking our page/group.

They wanted to know if we have come across the person or had any dealings with them work wise, which we have not apart from them liking our Facebook stuff.

The guy from DWP said he found all the info from the persons facebook and just googled our company.

So if you are a DJ/entertainer from south wales area and claiming benefits then beware as the DWP are watching!!

They gave me the guys full name but won't say here on a public forum.

I think its great they are investigating people like this who are getting us tax payers hard earned cash and doing extra work on the side, especially as they are claiming incapacity benefit as they are supposeldy not fit to work!!

Obviously if we had any dealings with the person in question I would not hesitate in helping them with their enquiries.

[DazzyD]

I'm not being funny here but I'm very suprised that a F.I.S. (DWPs Benefit fraud unit) investigator contacted you by telephone regarding this matter as they normally obtain their evidence by requesting it in writing in a very formal and official letter. The target could be a good friend of yours and you could easily tip him off after this phone call and then the investigation would be ruined. The letter they send you informs you, in no uncertain terms, of your obligations and what could happen to you if you divulged this information to the target. The seriousness of the situation can't really be shown in a telephone conversation.

I'm not saying that the call wasn't genuine just that it strikes me that this action could easily jeopardise such an investigation.

In case anyone is wondering how I know all this, well, I haven't been on the wrong end of a fraud investigation before. My day job is as a Benefits Assessor and I have a lot of dealings with BIU (Benefits Investigation Unit) who work closely with FIS on joint investigations! And, yes, I have seen annonymous allegations coming in from people relating to people who do a bit of DJing on the side (or, rather, don't declare it to Benefits! :eek: ).

[Fullforceeventsltd]

Apparently they will send a letter anyway confirming our convo, event though we could not help them.

If its not genuine why would anyone think of phoning us for something like this.