The Costa del…Benefit Fraud?

The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions has set up an office in Spain to tackle British benefits cheats who are scamming the system. It seems that the Costa del Crime – which was once renowned as a hotbed for dangerous fugitives – has become the destination of choice for a less violent criminal: benefit cheats and tax dodgers.

It is believed that hundreds of British expats, many of them retired, are cheating the UK welfare system while enjoying soaking up the Spanish sunshine.

2013 saw 769 suspected fraud cases involving expats.

To help combat the problem, the Department for Work and Pensions, led by Iain Duncan Smith, has set up an office in Madrid.

The UK government has established a dedicated fraud investigation team in the city to tackle the situation – and to try to recover some of the British taxpayers’ money.

New figures have revealed that there are more cases of so-called ‘abroad fraud’ by UK citizens in Spain than in any other country, leading the UK Government to try and get to grips with the costly issue.

The most common fraudulent claims are for pension credit (£52million), housing benefit (£19million) and income support (£12million).

The Manager of the DWP’s counter-fraud team, Richard West, said: ‘Cases range from people hiding foreign assets and homes to those moving abroad, either temporarily or permanently, at the taxpayers’ expense.

‘Benefit cheats need to know that even if they are out of the country, our teams will still investigate and, where necessary, bring them back to the UK to face justice.’

If you want to report someone for committing benefit fraud, contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.