[Mrluvaluva]

An alleged benefits cheat who claimed her skin had changed colour after a car crash features on a list of bizarre excuses given to officials over the past 12 months.

Another man from Glasgow told fraud investigators they were looking for his ‘evil twin brother’ who lived in Pakistan.

More excuses included one claimant who said his wife was really his sister and another who admitted she needed the cash for satellite TV.

The excuses are revealed as the government announces a new campaign starting this autumn to target benefit cheats and encouraging claimants to come clean about changes to their circumstances.

Minister for Welfare Reform, David Freud, said: ‘Hardworking taxpayers lost an outrageous £1.2billion in benefit fraud last year.

‘Our investigators are stepping up and taking advantage of the latest technology so fraudsters can be identified, traced and caught.’

Top 10 bizarre benefit fraud excuses:

10. ‘I needed the money to pay for TV in each of the five bedrooms, as the kids have ADHT, and I have to keep them in.’ She failed to mention the children no longer lived with her.

9. ‘I don’t know why you’re interviewing me, I’m bisexual!’

8. ‘It’s not my partner, it’s my sister.’ When the investigator held up their wedding certificate, he replied: ‘That was a drunken mistake.’

7. A man interviewed in Folkestone regarding failing to declare his night-watchman job said: ‘I only claim benefits during the day – what I do at night is my own business.’

6. An alleged fraudster from London claimed she was a white female depicted in photos even though her skin colour was black and suggesting her face had changed shape following a car crash.

5. ‘Any wages under £200 are mine but any over £200 must belong to someone else.’

4. ‘He doesn’t live here, he just comes every morning to collect his sandwiches and kiss me good morning before going to work.’

3. ‘I didn’t tell you about my private pension because it’s private.’

2. ‘It’s Christmas so I should be able to keep the extra money.’

1. ‘You have me confused with my evil twin brother. He lives in Pakistan and visits the UK regularly.’


Metro

[Verbal]

Yet more Tory propaganda.