Trafford Council is underling its zero tolerance attitude towards fraudulent activity, which has a huge impact on local authority resources, and costs local governments over £2bn each year.

In accordance with its Anti-fraud and Corruption strategy, Trafford Council is encouraging residents to remain vigilant and to get in touch if they suspect an incident of fraud is taking place. The council takes all allegations seriously, and any details/information passed by residents will be treated in the strictest confidence

Fraud can take various forms, from Council Tax and Business Rate Fraud to Social Care and Blue Badge Fraud. The estimated £2bn that local government loses to fraud each year could be paying for vital frontline services. Instead, it is being used by criminals to fund their lifestyles and may also result in funding other illegal activities.

Following the successful identification of fraud, Trafford Council may:

  • Stop the individual/s receiving the council service they’ve been fraudulently obtaining, e.g. their Blue Badge
  • Recover money fraudulently claimed
  • Prosecute individuals in the courts
  • Publicise our successful cases in the local press
  • Ensure that correct council tax and/or business rates liability is charged

Working together we can spot fraud and stop it.
If you wish to report somebody you believe is defrauding the Council, you can do so by contacting Trafford Council in a number of different ways:

Via the newly introduced online reporting form: online fraud report form
(http://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-council-tax/benefits/report-a-fraud.aspx)

By email: counterfraud@trafford.gov.uk
By Telephone: 0161 912 2166/1839/2771

Or by writing to:
Counter Fraud & Enforcement Team
2nd Floor Sale
Waterside
Sale
M33 7ZF

Residents and businesses should note that Housing Benefit fraud is now investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions. If you wish to report somebody who you believe is falsely claiming Housing Benefit please report it to:

The DWP National Benefit Fraud helpline
PO Box 224,
Preston
PR1 1GP,

Tel:0800854440 (textphone 0800 320 0512) or via www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud