21 January 2004 - Prison sentence for cheat who ignored advert warning
A fraudster jailed for four and a half years is the latest victim of a Government crackdown on benefit cheats.
New TV adverts in the latest phase of the Targeting Benefit Fraud campaign started this week as investigators busted a fraud gang who may have netted up to £3 million from the public purse.
David Thompson, 41, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court for his part in a scam to steal public money by presenting counterfeit giros at post offices. Thompson himself stole £78,000 of public money.
Thompson, along with four others, was arrested after falling foul of the Government’s tough new stance on cheats. They found that the sinister warning in one of the Targeting Benefit Fraud adverts is no bluff - “If we think you’re a benefit cheat, we can follow your movements.”
Surveillance by DWP investigators trapped Thompson, who tried to deny his crimes, but a search of his home uncovered a “cheat’s kit” including counterfeit giro cheques and a counterfeit driving licence.
Anti-fraud Minister Chris Pond welcomed the result, saying: “Benefit fraud leaves a trail that DWP investigators can follow, just as they did in this case. The sentence shows that benefit fraud is a serious crime – we know it, the public knows it and now the cheats know it too.
“Our new adverts aim to reach not just the fraudsters who may recognise themselves but also people who might know someone who is committing fraud.
“We are committed to cutting fraud in the main benefits in half by 2006 and with the public on our side, we can really tackle the fraud culture.”
The new TV adverts, launched this week by the Department for Work and Pensions, show people working whilst claiming benefits. One features a young woman handing out leaflets in a shopping mall, another depicts a man delivering pizza on a moped.
The new ads also feature the sinister “Ring of Light” from earlier adverts, as a reminder that fraud leaves a trail and that investigators are watching people the Department suspects are fraudsters.
The Targeting Benefit Fraud campaign aims to get the message across that the Department now has more information about where people try to commit fraud and greater powers to stop them.
Notes for editors
- 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.targetingfraud.gov.uk
- Latest regional figures (April 01 - March 02) for fraud and error in Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance are: North East - £30 million; North West - £88 million; Yorkshire - £67 million; East Midlands - £28 million; West Midlands - £61 million; East - £34 million; London - £178 million; South East - £81 million; South West - £35 million; Wales - £29 million; Scotland - £72 million.
- The Department for Work and Pensions has targets to reduce fraud and error in Income Support (IS) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) by 33 per cent by March 2004 and by 50 per cent by March 2006. So far the Department has successfully cut fraud and error in IS and JSA by 26 per cent. 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 2002/03 there were over 32,000 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.
- Targeting Fraud campaign was launched in June 2003 with the slogan “We’re on to you.”
- Stills from the new adverts are available – pleased contact the DWP press office.
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk