Submitted by Mike Grenville on Thu, 01 Dec 2005 12:13

A Council in the UK is trying to combat Benefit fraud by inviting the public to report their suspicions by SMS

The ‘Text a Fraud’ service has been put in place at the Fraud Investigation Unit using Dialogue’s Community Text messaging service which allows members of the general public who wish to remain anonymous to text their local authority when they suspect benefit fraud is being committed.

This new method of reporting crime, which has been in place since April, has already achieved results. The Benefit Fraud Investigations Service has seen a 10% increase in referrals over the past six months and as a result has helped identify over £435,000 of fraudulently claimed benefit.

Examples of the types of fraud are when a benefit claimant isn't living in the property claimed for, is working when they claim they are not.

“Recent news has highlighted the need for more measures to be implemented to combat benefit fraud and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council has taken the initiative and looked to new technology to help its community. Community Text is ideally suited for their needs because it is online and straightforward to install and it allows them to monitor incoming texts,” commented Paul Griffiths, Dialogue Communications’ Managing Director.

Benefit fraud is a wide spread problem in the community but it seems adopting the new text message system has been a success for the council. Andrew Hardy, Fraud Investigation Manager at the Benefit Fraud Investigations Service, explains: “We do have several lines of communication in place, such as a benefit hotline and an email system but this new SMS service has made a huge impact.”

He added: “Since April we have had over 500 referrals, with 10% of those coming from text. We have made 32 formal cautions, 93 administrative penalties and prosecuted 27 individuals for benefit fraud. We are continually looking for new ways to encourage people to report suspected fraud in confidence and this new text system is an alternative form which seems to be working.”