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Hertfordshire County Council

 

 

 

 

The Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS)

Fraud costs local tax payers millions of pounds each year. This prevents public money from going to the places that need it most and improving your community.

According to national reports, the main areas at risk of fraud are blue badge misusehousing tenancy fraudcouncil tax fraud and school admissions.

Latest government figures show that fraud is increasing. We need your help to tackle this.

You can report fraud anonymously and we'll treat it in the strictest confidence.

 

You can also report to us by calling 0300 123 4033 – this line is mannedMonday to Friday between 9am – 5pm or you can leave a message for us at any other time.

You can email us at Fraud.Team@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Any information you provide will be in confidence, but you can leave your name and contact details if you wish.  This is not mandatory, but is sometimes helpful if we need to contact you for further information. None of your details will be shared with anyone else without your express permission.

 

SAFS is a partnership of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire councils:

B3 Living logo 250x100

Borough of Broxbourne logo 186x100
East Herts
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Hertsmere

Luton Borough Council logo 143x100

North Herts logo-RGB PURPLE
stevenage

Welhat

Settle logo

Clarion Logo

 

 

A picture of a "Disabled badge holders only" sign.

 

Blue Badge fraud

Blue badge fraud, such as altering a badge or using someone else's, costs around £46 million a year nationally.

If you suspect that someone in Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire is fraudulently using a blue badge, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

houses

 

Housing fraud

Housing fraud costs the tax payer around £1.8bn a year nationally. It includes:

  • sub-letting a council house
  • not living in a council house and leaving it empty
  • making a fraudulent Right to Buy application
  • providing false or misleading information to get a council house.

This deprives people in genuine need of affordable homes.

If you suspect that someone in Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire is committing tenancy fraud, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

fraud-council-tax-fraud

 

Council tax fraud

Council tax fraud costs around £60 million a year nationally. It includes:

  • claiming false discounts or exemptions
  • falsely claiming you're a student or you're living alone
  • failing to declare a change in your income.

If you suspect that someone in Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire is committing council tax fraud, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

fraud-school-address-fraud

 

School admissions fraud

Each year, we receive over 40,000 school applications - some of them are fraudulent.

Fraudulent applications take school places from local children.

If you suspect that someone is committing school admissions fraud, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

Pothole deep

 

Insurance fraud

In 2016/17 £5.1 million of insurance fraud was identified in local government.

This includes false claims for:

  • damage caused by pot-holes
  • personal injury
  • damage to private property.

If you suspect that someone is committing insurance fraud, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

 

A nurse holding hands and talking to an older woman in a wheelchair.

 

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:

If you suspect that someone is committing adult social care fraud, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

 


handshake

 

Procurement and contract fraud

Procurement fraud is estimated to cost local councils millions of pounds each year and believed to be one of the top three fraud risk areas. Examples can include:

  • bribery and corruption
  • suppliers not fulfilling a contract
  • cartels and bid-rigging.

If you suspect that someone is committing procurement fraud, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

 

 fraud-other

 

Other Fraud

We take allegations of fraud against any council service seriously because it means there is less money to spend on essential services that affect the whole community. This includes fraud types such as:

  • Business Rate Fraud
  • Covid Fraud
  • Payroll Fraud

If you suspect that someone is committing any fraud against the Council, call our fraud hotline on 0300 123 4033 or report it online.

 

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