A gang of five Bulgarians have pulled off Britain's biggest ever benefits fraud raking in almost £54million after using thousands of fake ID claims to fuel their luxurious lifestyles.
Investigators who arrested the gang and searched their properties also discovered hundreds of 'claim packs' containing forged and false documents, and more than 900 digital devices. Two of the criminals - Galina Nikolova, 38, and Stoyan Stoyanov, 27 - pictured together in 2020 while on holiday in Turkey
Their criminal convictions mark what is the largest benefit fraud prosecution and investigation ever brought to the courts in England and Wales. He was extradited back to Britain in February last year and eventually admitted conspiracy to make false representations, possession of articles for use in a fraud and possessing criminal property.
The enormous haul of money gained from the claims was laundered through a number of accounts, then withdrawn in cash – with £750,000 in bank notes found stuffed in suitcases at one of their homes Meanwhile, videos posted from Nikolova show her taking day trips to Aston Hall and going to see a match at Aston Villa's stadium.
'They carried out a sustained attack on a system designed to support the most vulnerable people in our society and treated it like a cash machine to fund their own lavish lifestyles.' Mel Stride, Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, which led the probe with the CPS, said: 'Building on our success in preventing £18 billion going into the wrong hands in 2022/23, these convictions underline our commitment to protecting taxpayers' money.'
Meanwhile, the Government is currently legislating for new fraud powers which will allow the DWP to request data from third parties, such as banks, that could show signs of potential benefit fraud and potentially save the taxpayer up to £600 million over the next five years.It provides monthly payments to people who are on low incomes or out of work.
It led to the amateur actress to being jailed for five years and eight months in July 2019 before being given an extra months on her sentence in 2020 for failing to pay back £200,500 of her ill-gotten gains.
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