Reporting fraud and corruption

Fraud isn't a victimless crime; it's theft from ourselves and members of the public, and it’s a criminal offence. You can help to ensure that all our spending goes on delivering and improving public services by telling us if you think someone is committing fraud against us.

How to report fraud

You can report fraud to us by filling in the relevant online form below. Please tell us as much information as you can when making your report, such as dates, full names, addresses, vehicle details, employment details etc. You can also report fraud by emailing corporatefraudinvestigations@barnsley.gov.uk.

You don't have to give us your own details when making your report, but it'd be helpful if you tell us your name and phone number in case we need to contact you for more details. We’ll handle any information you provide sensitively and in confidence (see our privacy policy).

Council Tax fraud

Council Tax fraud includes:

failing to register to pay Council Tax
making a false application for a Council Tax discount, exemption or reduction
claiming a single person discount when someone else lives in the property

Council Tax Support fraud

Council Tax Support fraud includes someone:

failing to declare all of their income, including earnings and private pensions
failing to declare all of their savings, including all bank/building society accounts and ISAs
failing to declare they own another property or land
failing to declare a partner or other adults who live with them
failing to report any change in circumstances that might affect their existing claim

If someone makes a false claim or doesn't tell us straight away about changes to their circumstances, they'll have to repay any overpaid support. They may also be prosecuted, or in less serious cases may receive a formal caution or a fine.

Blue Badge fraud

The Blue Badge scheme is designed to ensure parking spaces are available for disabled people. Each Blue Badge belongs to one person. It can be used with any vehicle that the badge holder is travelling in. The badge must not be used when the badge holder isn't there.

Altering a Blue Badge or using someone else's is fraud, and stops disabled people being able to park close to their destination. Misuse of a badge by someone who isn't disabled is an offence under section 115 and section 117 of the Road Traffic Act 1984. Offenders could be prosecuted and receive a fine of up to £1000. There may also be a penalty imposed for any parking offence.

Letting us know the following when reporting Blue Badge misuse can help us to deal with this:

the Blue Badge reference number, expiry date and who it was issued by
registration number of the vehicle displaying the badge
where the vehicle is usually parked

Report suspected Blue Badge misuse

Housing fraud

Housing fraud deprives people in genuine need of affordable homes. It includes:

providing false or misleading information to get a council house, for example someone saying they have children when they don't
sub-letting a council house without permission
living in a property after someone has died without the right to do so
not living in a council house and leaving it empty
providing false information in a Right to Buy application

Anyone caught committing housing fraud is likely to lose their tenancy and may be fined or sent to prison.

Report suspected tenancy fraud

Insurance fraud

Insurance fraud includes:

false claims for damage caused by potholes
false claims for personal injury
false claims for damage to private property
serial claims across a number of authorities
exaggerated claims by adding extra items to a genuine claim

Report insurance fraud

Adult social care fraud

Adult social care fraud is thought to be the highest risk of fraud, costing councils millions of pounds every year. Examples of fraud include:

exaggerating a disability or illness to receive more support
not declaring savings or capital in financial assessments
using direct payments for non-care related expenditure
carers claiming for hours not provided

Report adult social care fraud

After making your report

We look into all reported concerns, and will investigate and take action against any kind of fraud and corruption. Not all reports will warrant a full investigation; we may be able to resolve some matters informally. We’ll always prosecute if we think that doing so is in the public interest.

Fraud we don't deal with

Some types of fraud are dealt with by other organisations or some you can deal with yourself.

Benefit fraud

For benefit fraud, like Housing Benefit, Income Support or disability benefits, report this to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Scams

A scam is a dishonest scheme designed to cheat you out of money. This is fraud and there are many different methods that fraudsters could try and use.

Read more about scams and how to protect yourself on our scams page.

Data sharing for the prevention and detection of fraud

We take part in the National Fraud Initiative. This is coordinated by the Cabinet Office to prevent and detect fraud in public services and the benefits system. We also disclose data in accordance with the requirements of section 68 of the Serious Crime Act 2007. Read more about data sharing for the prevention and detection of fraud.

Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing is the term used when someone working in an organisation reports a concern about suspected wrongdoing, malpractice, illegality or risk in the workplace. We're committed to the highest possible standards of honesty, openness and accountability, and will not tolerate malpractice or wrongdoing at the council.

See our confidential reporting (whistleblowing) policy for details of how employees can raise concerns of wrongdoing involving our employees, councillors, contractors or through other activities.