Report Fraud

• Council Tax Reduction fraud - Someone who is claiming Council Tax Reduction and has not declared they are working, have a partner, own land or property, have savings or claim benefit at one address and lives elsewhere.
  
  
• Blue Badge fraud or misuse - Falsely obtaining a blue badge, misusing a legitimate blue badge, using a badge of a person who has died, using a fake blue badge, using a stolen blue badge or using an expired blue badge.
  
  
• Direct Payments for care / Social Care Payment Fraud - This can be where an individual is receiving payments from the council to provide care for themselves or another person, but some or all the money is not being spent on care.
  
  
• Grants fraud - This can be where grants can be made to individuals or organisations to assist their operations or to adapt homes to accommodate specific needs of the occupants but are not being used for the intended purpose.
  
  
• Business Rates fraud - Business rates fraud is committed when someone deliberately gives false or misleading information so that they can pay lower or no business rates. It could include falsely declaring that a property is no longer in use to qualify for a reduction in rates.
  
  
• Supplier/Contract fraud - This can be where a supplier or contractor knowingly provides goods or products that are inferior or of a cheaper cost to them, when the council has paid for and is expecting goods or products of a higher quality.
  
  
• Bribery or Corruption - Acceptance of money or gifts, favouring contractors or price fixing. Council staff or Councillors taking advantage of their position.
  
  
• Insurance fraud - Any insurance claim that is proved to be false, made against the organisation or the organisation's insurers.
  
  
• Recruitment fraud - Applicants providing false CVs, job histories, qualifications, references, immigration status (i.e., the right to work in the UK) or the use of a false identity to hide criminal convictions or immigration status. 

• Procurement fraud - The procuring of services to the Council which have been done scrupulously, by way of financial favour, inside knowledge, coercion or otherwise.

• Council Tax Discount fraud  - Types of discounts that may be claimed fraudulently include claiming to live in a single-person household to get the single person discount when more than one person lives in the household, pretending to be a student to get the student discount when someone is not a student, claiming a property is unoccupied and unfurnished when it is not or claiming for an exemption that the council tax payer is not entitled to.

• Mandate Fraud - Action Fraud defines mandate fraud as “when someone gets you to change a direct debit, standing order or bank transfer mandate, by purporting to be (trying to appear as) an organisation you make regular payments to, for example a subscription or membership organisation or a supplier to your business”.

• Employee Fraud - Frauds involving council employees that are in the process of being or have been made against the council e.g., theft of council goods/services, ‘time loss’ fraud or submitting false expenses claims.

Fraud is not a victimless crime and can affect us all.

• the monetary cost – In monetary terms, fraud costs the country billions of pounds a year and increases the amount of Income Tax and Council Tax you pay. It also affects the amount of money we have available to spend on providing public services. Fraud means there is less money available to improve and upgrade such things as educational facilities, social care and transport.
• the human cost – There are other not so obvious costs as a consequence of some frauds. For example, a consequence of Blue Badge fraud is that disabled parking spaces, meant for those that need them, are reduced depriving often vulnerable people of the ability to leave their home and conduct their essential business.

Bridgend County Borough Council is required by law to protect the public funds in administers. Our reputation is underpinned by ethical behavior, financial probity and honesty. Any cases of fraud, bribery, corruption or other dishonesty could adversely affect the Council’s reputation and put its ability to achieve its policies and objectives at risk. If we think someone is committing fraud against the council, we will investigate them. If we find evidence to prove that a person is committing fraud, they may be prosecuted via the Magistrates or Crown Courts.

Council Officers may also be subject to disciplinary proceedings. Councillors may also be referred to the Public Ombudsman for Wales.

In any event, we always look to recover any monetary or material losses. In specific circumstances we may also seek to confiscate further monies or assets if they are believed to be the proceeds of crime.

Please note we are unable to provide updates on individual cases due to the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

The council’s Corporate Fraud Team carry out investigations for the prevention and detection of crime.

They investigate fraud and irregularity allegations examples of which are listed above.

Please help us prevent, detect, and deter fraud. If you suspect that someone is committing fraud against the council, you should report them straight away.

There are several ways you can do this confidentially. You don’t have to give your name unless you want to. Please provide as much information as possible to help us investigate.

The information you give will be looked at. If you’ve given enough information, then the person’s claim will be checked. You won’t be told the outcome of the investigations though.

Sometimes no action is taken. It might be that the person has declared a change in their circumstances and their benefit is not affected by it.

If the person is found to have been committing benefit fraud, then action will be taken against them. Action can include removing a person’s benefits and prosecuting them in court.