Discovering fraud is a complex operation and it requires the help of trained professionals
(PRWEB UK) 27 January 2014
The article in The Telegraph: Benefit cheat so disabled she 'could not dress or bathe herself' caught on camera at fitness class dated 26th January 2013 reports that Anne Bird swindled £21,000 claiming she was so disabled she needed help bathing and getting dressed was caught by undercover investigators taking part in fitness classes.
According to the Telegraph article, Anne Bird, 60, allegedly told the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) she was entitled to the highest category of disability benefits after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Despite being entitled to some benefits, between October 2008 and August 2012 she was overpaid £21,109 in state hand-outs. But she was caught by investigators following a tip-off that she was regularly attending fitness classes. She was caught on camera joining in a range of activities at Bloxwich Leisure Centre, West Mids., including circuit training, Pilates, aerobics and spinning classes. In one clip Bird, who claimed she could barely walk, was filmed doing rigorous sit-ups while balancing on a fitness ball while in another she did repeated arm and leg stretches.
According to the Telegraph report Bird allegedly admitted making a false declaration on claim forms to obtain disability allowance when she appeared at Walsall Magistrates' Court on 8th Jan 2013 (case number 1300822805). JPs heard that the former postwoman with Royal Mail, was laid off in 2008 due to a degenerative condition.
Private Investigator Coventry (http://www.privateinvestigator-coventry.co.uk) provides its clients with the services of benefits fraud investigation.
Lee Hughes, chief investigator at Private Investigator Coventry said: “Discovering fraud is a complex operation and it requires the help of trained professionals, and our agency has some of the best private detectives in the field. Benefits fraud requires private investigators which are skilled in several disciplines, but most of all, the detectives must be great at surveillance.”
Usually, surveillance can be carried out in two ways: by installing hidden cameras and computer software to monitor the activities of the subject in question. Seeing as benefits cheat involves a person, who avoids going to work, and there is no legal way of installing cameras in their home, Private Investigator Coventry have to resort to real life surveillance.
This is done by a team of two detectives, in most cases, which follow the potential fraudster over the course of days or weeks. During the surveillance, our experienced private detectives will capture all of the activities on video and still images, which will ultimately serve as evidence in court, if the situation requires for it. Once our team concludes that they have enough evidence, they will reconvene and go through the footage, and sort the material that our client needs the most.
Lee Hughes, chief investigator at Private Investigator Coventry, recommends that our potential clients contact our detective agency as soon as they suspect they may be the victim of fraud, because every day lost means that they or their company could be losing hard earned money. The more they wait, the lesser their chances of proving the fraud and getting their money back. Private Investigator Coventry has immense experience when it comes to investigating benefits fraud cases, and we have become the go-to place for such cases since our inception. Our private detectives are standing by and expecting your calls. Get to the bottom of your problem today. Give Lee Hughes a call on 0247 662 9765 or email him at l(dot)hughes(at)privateinvestigator-coventry(dot)co(dot)uk