For four and a half years, a group of five people—three women and two men—from Bulgaria participated in a massive operation to file bogus claims for Universal Credit.
The defendants were admitted to London’s Wood Green Crown Court for stealing more than £50 million.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has deemed this five-person gang’s involvement in the most significant case of benefit fraud in the history of England and Wales.
They all confessed to being fraudsters and admitted to being involved in money laundering crimes.
According to the CPS, the gang included Gyunesh Ali, Galina Nikolova, Stoyan Stoyanov, Tsvetka Todorova, and Patritsia Paneva.
Multiple forgeries were collected as evidence, including rental agreements, pay stubs, and letters from landlords, employers, and general practitioners.
According to the CPS, the con artists would keep trying to have their claims accepted, even after they were refused the first time.
The inquiry found three places in north London’s Wood Green neighborhood where many fraudulent benefit applications were processed. It was found that applicants had entrusted the organized criminal organization with their benefit applications after submitting them via these three sources.
The funds were transferred between other bank accounts or taken out in cash after the claims.
According to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the gang used a sophisticated scheme incorporating real and fake papers to steal an astounding £53.9 million. They tricked the system and obtained advantages they didn’t deserve.
When the group was caught in May 2021, the police found a lot of fake or falsified passports and a lot of money in their baggage. The CPS also reported the seizure of an Audi automobile and a slew of high-end accessories, including eyeglasses, watches, and coats.
Among the several forms of government assistance in the United Kingdom, 5.8 million people—employed and jobless alike—are now claiming Universal Credit.
