RESIDENTS are being urged to help stop public money from going to fraudsters and people who aren’t entitled to it.

After almost £100,000 of fraud and error was identified last year, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is urging people to help.

The call comes in International Fraud Awareness Week, which started on Monday, November 14, with the council wanting to get the message across that it takes fraud very seriously and every referral received is investigated.

The council works with external organisations, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, other local authorities and the Cabinet Office, to identify potential fraud and error.

During the 2021/22 financial year, this resulted in the identification of £90,689.74 in fraud and error, with £83,293.85 in future losses prevented.

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Deputy leader Cllr John Izett said: “We take fraud and attempted fraud involving public money very seriously and work hard, alongside other organisations, to investigate and prosecute, where necessary.

“The council aims to identify and prevent fraud and, where appropriate, investigate suspicions. This may be, for example, people falsely claiming council tax single person discount, companies claiming business rate exemptions they aren’t entitled to and people applying for exemptions on a property they aren’t eligible for. We then take appropriate action to recover this money and prevent losses.

“Each year we receive hundreds of referrals from the public and our partners about suspected fraud and we follow up on all reports. We would encourage members of the public to report to us any genuine suspicions they have of fraud against the council.”

People with any concerns or suspicions of fraud affecting the borough council should contact the fraud team via the website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/report-fraud, by emailing fraudinvestigators@basingstoke.gov.uk or by calling 0800 525 927.

Concerns can be reported anonymously, but it is helpful if as much information as possible is provided.