Fraud and Corruption
We are committed to ensuring that fraud and corruption is reduced and the risk is minimised by operating a zero-tolerance culture of fraud corruption.
Reporting fraud and corruption
If you suspect someone of committing fraud, report them.
Email investigations@molevalley.gov.uk or call 01306 879284
Your identity will be protected.
What is fraud and corruption?
Fraud is the intentional distortion of financial statements or other records for gain or to mislead or misrepresent.
Corruption is the offering or acceptance of an inducement or reward to influence the action of any person or the failure to disclose an interest in order to enjoy financial or other gain.
Fraud and corruption can be committed by
- a councillor
- an employee of Mole Valley District Council
- a contractor or supplier to us
- a member of the public who we have dealings with (e.g claimant, applicant, resident or liable person)
Types of fraud
Falsely declaring that there is only one adult in a property in order to obtain 25% discount.
The most common types of tenancy fraud:
- unlawful subletting – when a resident lets out their home without the landlords knowledge or permission, they are unlawfully sub-letting. Often, they’ll continue to pay their rent to the landlord, but charge their ‘tenant’ a higher rate
- not using their home as their principal home – sometimes tenants will move out to live elsewhere, for example with a new partner, and either leave the property empty, or allow friends or relatives to continue living there
- obtaining housing by deception – lying on an application. For example, they might not tell us that they own or are renting another property, or provide false information about the people with whom they live, or mislead us about their local connection to the district.
- false homelessness – pretending to be homeless or vulnerable in order to obtain housing, for example getting parents to lie about evicting them from family home, or providing false ID information, or claiming to be responsible for children that live with someone else.
- wrongly claimed succession – when a tenant dies, there are certain rules about what should happen with their tenancy. When someone who, under these rules, is not entitled to the property tries to take over the tenancy, they are committing tenancy fraud. For example, they might claim they lived with the resident before they passed away, when they actually lived elsewhere.
- Swapping homes – simply, this is when two or more residents swap homes without the knowledge and permission of the landlord
When a claimant fails to declare an income, savings, or other adults living with them, including partners.
Claiming benefits you’re not entitled to on purpose. For example by:
- not reporting a change in your circumstances
- providing false information
Report someone you think is committing benefit fraud to GOV.UK.
Accepting bribes to change decisions, or favour a contact or planning application. Please see our Anti-Bribery Policy.
Misrepresenting personal information, experience, qualifications and identity.
Any action taken to conceal, arrange, use or possess the proceeds of any criminal conduct. Please see our Anti-Money Laundering Policy.
What we do
We have a responsibility to protect public funds and ensure that any allegations of fraud and/or corruption are fully investigated.
We have a dedicated team made up of qualified and accredited investigation specialists. The team’s duties include:
- preventing and reducing the risk of fraud
- detecting and investigating allegations of fraud
- taking legal action against those committing the fraud
Reporting concerns
Any information or referral of suspected fraud is dealt with confidentially by our Fraud and Investigation team.
An investigator will normally carry out an investigation and will gather all of the relevant information and evidence before approaching the person concerned.
The team works closely with officers from other agencies including the Department for Work and Pensions, social housing providers, other councils, and other national crime investigation organisations.
In certain situations, the person who is alleged to have committed fraud may be invited to attend a formal interview under caution.
Action we can take
Our Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy and Prosecution and Sanction Policy set out the options we have when dealing with proven fraudulent or corrupt acts. This includes criminal prosecution.
Victim of fraud
If you have been a victim of fraud, there is a network of support and information available to you, visit Action Fraud.