Five suspects arrested in connection with tax credit fraud

Published on Thursday 17 September 2009 22:05

FIVE people have been arrested in Glasgow suspected of using the details of fictitious children to claim millions of pounds in fraudulent tax credit claims.

More than 50 police officers as well as more than 50 revenue and customs officials carried out dawn raids yesterday at seven addresses in the Govanhill area.

Follow-up visits were made to around 30 tax credit claimants' addresses in Manchester, Derbyshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire to verify details of claims.

A spokesman for HMRC said the people who had been arrested were believed to be part of an organised crime group involved in tax credits fraud using false addresses and employment details and claiming for a "significant number" of fictitious children.

John Fitzcharles, HMRC assistant director of investigation in Scotland, said: "Yesterday's raids form part of an ongoing investigation of a large-scale tax credits fraud.

"These individuals have been detained on suspicion of attacking the tax credits system, a system which exists to help the most vulnerable in society."

John Neilson, assistant chief constable of Strathclyde Police, said: "This operation demonstrates Strathclyde Police Force's commitment to working in partnership with other agencies in the fight against serious organised crime.

"All organised crime groups use violence and intimidation to protect their criminal assets, and this brings misery to our communities.

"Serious and organised crime is a very high priority for Strathclyde Police and we are working tirelessly with our partner agencies to crack down on these groups and protect communities."

The raids were carried out by a number of agencies working under the umbrella of Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Task Force (SOCTF).