Tenancy Fraud and Abuse
Examples include:
- a tenant not living in a Council or housing association property as the main residence
- letting a Council or housing association property to someone else
- continuing to live in a Council or housing association property without permission after the tenant has left or died
- making false claims on an application for a social housing property or on a right to buy application to purchase their Council house
- where somebody provides misleading information about living in a property to enable them to get the tenancy after someone has died.
Council Tax Fraud or Evasion
Council Tax is payable by adults who own or rent a property to live in. Council Tax payers can claim a discount or exemption in a variety of circumstances, such as living alone or being in specified occupations. Council Tax payers can also claim a reduction in tax if they are on a low income or claim benefits.
Examples include:
- claiming Council Tax Single Person’s Discount when another adult is also living at the property
- not telling the Council of a change in circumstance which may affect your Council tax reduction award
- claiming reliefs and discounts, such as a student exemption, that you are not entitled to
- live in a house they say is empty
Report council tax fraud online
Business Rates Fraud or Evasion
Business rates is the commonly used term for non-domestic rates. Business rates are charged on most non-domestic premises. This includes most commercial properties such as: shops, offices, pubs, warehouses, factories
If a building or part of a building is used for business purposes, business rates is likely to be payable although certain types of property are excluded from the business rates, and some businesses can claim relief because of their size, location and the type of business activity that takes place at the property.
A business might avoid paying the costs by:
- false claims for discounts & reliefs
- failure to notify liability for National Non-Domestic Rate (NNDR)
- failure by a business to notify occupation of non-domestic premises
Report business rates fraud online
Bribery or Corruption
Examples include:
- Council officers or Councillors accepting money or gifts from members of the public
- Council officers or Councillors taking advantage of their position in order to get money or gifts
- Council officers or Councillors favouring contractors in exchange for money or gifts
- Contractors bribing a Council Officer to secure work with the Council
Please refer to:
Report bribery or corruption online
Benefit Fraud
You can report fraud relating to benefits administered by The Department for Work and Pensions, such as Housing Benefit, Disability Benefits, Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit etc on the GOV UK website or by calling the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.
Please note: Council Tax Support is administered by the Council and any fraud relating to this should be reported using the Council’s online form
Blue Badge Misuse
The Blue Badge scheme enables disabled people to park closer to their destinations. Blue badges are issued to persons with a disability. The disability may not always be obvious. If you see someone parked in a disabled space, but not showing obvious signs of disability, it does not necessarily mean they are not disabled or not entitled to use the space.
Badges can be misused a number of ways.
By the badge holder:
- parking in the wrong place or parking for too long where there is a time limit
- using a badge that is no longer valid
- using a badge that has been reported as ‘lost’ or ‘stolen’
- letting a friend or relative use the badge
- using a copied badge
- changing the details on the badge, like the expiry date
- making a fraudulent application (e.g. providing false information on the application form) or using a badge obtained fraudulently.
By a third party:
- using someone else’s badge
- using a badge belonging to someone who has died
- copying, altering or forging badges
- using a stolen badge
- using a forged badge
Report blue badge fraud online
Concessionary Fares Fraud
Residents of Cornwall who are either of pensionable age or have a permanent disability may be entitled to a bus pass.
The bus pass is issued under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). There are two types of passes – one for those of eligible age (blue stripe) and one for those with a disability (orange stripe). Both passes give you the same level of entitlement and have a set expiry date printed on the card.
Passes can be misused a number of ways.
By the pass holder:
- using a pass that is no longer valid
- using a pass that has been reported as ‘lost’ or ‘stolen’
- letting a friend or relative use the pass
- using a copied pass
- changing the details on the pass, like the expiry date
- making a fraudulent application (e.g. providing false information on the application form) or using a pass obtained fraudulently.
By a third party:
- using someone else’s pass
- using a pass belonging to someone who has died
- copying, altering or forging passes
- using a stolen pass
- using a forged pass
Report concessionary fares fraud online
Social Care and Direct Payments Fraud
The Council provides financial support to eligible individuals to meet their assessed social care needs and this support can take the form of the Council commissioning services on behalf of the individual, or alternatively making payments direct to the individual (Direct Payments) so that they (or someone officially approved to act on their behalf) can purchase the services themselves.
It is a requirement that any funding is used specifically to meet the assessed and genuine needs of the individual.
Examples of fraud and misuse include:
- Failing to disclose your true circumstances
- Exaggerating a care need
- failing to declare money held in savings or other capital assets such as property
- a care home or carer continuing to claim financial support after the death of the person needing care
- using money intended for care, on other things
- Continuing to receive funding when out of the country for long periods
Report social care and direct payments fraud online
Other fraud
Examples include:
- price fixing by contractors working for the Council
- insurance fraud - where somebody makes a dishonest claim against the Council to try to get a pay-out or compensation.
- contractors or suppliers charging for work not carried out or services not provided
- internal employee fraud
- misuse of grant funding by voluntary sector organisations