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More benefits cheats being caught More benefits cheats being caught
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The number of people convicted of benefit fraud in Northern Ireland has doubled in less than two years.The number of people convicted of benefit fraud in Northern Ireland has doubled in less than two years.
So far this year more than one person a day has been caught claiming money to which they were not entitled.So far this year more than one person a day has been caught claiming money to which they were not entitled.
On one occasion a man under suspicion of claiming unemployment benefit while working turned up for interview in his car with a taxi sign on the roof.On one occasion a man under suspicion of claiming unemployment benefit while working turned up for interview in his car with a taxi sign on the roof.
Those caught often receive a fine and a suspended prison sentence and also must pay back the falsely claimed money. Those caught often receive a suspended sentence and/or a fine and must also pay back the falsely claimed money.
This can often run into tens of thousands of pounds. John Nevin, assistant director of benefit security at the Department of Social Development, said it was able to use new powers, including the investigation of claimants' bank accounts.
Three hundred and thirty people have been caught in Northern Ireland this year. "Increasingly we are making more use of data matching with computers looking across benefit systems and seeing where information people have given does not tally up from one set of computers to another," he said.
The increase follows a decision to mount special investigations into benefit claims and the bulk of information comes from tip-offs from the public. "And when these anomalies turn up, we then start to dig into those - we want to make sure that the money that is spent goes to the people who need it."
Three hundred and thirty people have been caught claiming benefits they were not entitled to in Northern Ireland this year.