HMRC Worker Scammed Benefit Bosses Out Of £23,000 In Child and Working Tax Credits

Wednesday 07 June, 2017 Written by Dundee Evening Telegraph

HMRC worker Denise Forbes, 46, of Strathgray Crescent, Invergowrie, committed the fraud over a four-year period.

During that time she repeatedly told bosses at the agency — which is responsible for the collection of taxes and benefit payments — she was a single parent to claim £23,000 to which she was not entitled in tax credits.

All along she was in fact living with her partner James Traynor.

At Dundee Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Isma Mukhtar said: “The matter came to light when Dundee City Council was passed information and a joint investigation between the council, DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) and HMRC was launched.

“The pair had been on a number of holidays together during that period and banking records and payments belonging to her partner were registered to her address.”

Mr Traynor was interviewed and confirmed he was living with Forbes at a home they then shared in Castlewood Avenue.

However, he denied living with her at her previous address.

Forbes was also interviewed but gave the equivalent of a “no comment” answer to all questions.

The fiscal said: “I understand the DWP and HMRC will claim back the money through their own means.”

Forbes’s solicitor John Boyle said: “Repayments have not yet been made but some funds are available.”

Forbes admitted that between May 9 2009 and October 31 2013, at Balunie Drive, Castlewood Avenue and elsewhere, she was knowingly concerned in fraudulent activity undertaken with a view to obtaining payments of tax credit to which she was not entitled.

She admitted committing the offence by repeatedly stating to DWP and HMRC that she was living alone at the two addresses as a single parent, thus fraudulently obtaining £23,000 of child and working tax credits.

Forbes admitted doing this while knowing the truth was that she was living with her partner James Traynor.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond told Forbes: “You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence.”

Sentence was deferred until June 29.