Bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags, a luxury car, and designer goods were found during a benefits fraud raid
A gang who falsely claimed more than £53 million in Universal Credit - in what is believed to be the largest benefit fraud case in England and Wales - have been jailed.
The Crown Prosecution Service reported that during property raids, they discovered large amounts of cash stored in shopping bags and suitcases, a luxury car and numerous designer items including watches, jackets, and glasses. The court was presented with evidence that at the zenith of the scam, messages and photos had been shared within a WhatsApp group where members ridiculed the "naivety of the DWP". The DWP occasionally demanded photographs of individuals outside residences, with the front door open, as proof of residence these images were fabricated using Photoshop.
Evidence was presented of Ali "engaging in a lavish lifestyle", including footage of him throwing money in the air. After being released on bail, Ali fled to Bulgaria but was brought back to the UK under extradition on 25 February 2023. Paneva was sentenced to three years and two months in prison. The judge noted that she was only 19 when first recruited by Nikolova and initially compensated £80 daily by the gang.
HMRC Your Money Money Benefits Crime Universal Credit
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