Scarborough Borough Council does not tolerate fraud which targets public funds. We have a duty to protect taxpayers’ money and safeguard the services which support our community. Veritau investigate all suspected fraud committed against us, on our behalf. Fraud costs councils across the UK an estimated £2 billion per year, depriving councils of essential resources to provide services to the members of our community.
If someone provides false information or fails to report a change in their circumstances in relation to any service from the council, then they may be committing fraud. This could include:
- intentionally failing to report a change in circumstances
- providing false or misleading information in order to obtain funds (such as a council tax or business rates discount or other forms of financial assistance)
Veritau’s counter fraud team investigates all fraud committed against the council, including:
We rely on members of the public to report all suspected cases of fraud and misuse of council funds, and we investigate all reports we receive. Any information you provide can be reported anonymously if you wish.
You can report fraud in the following ways:
By email: counter.fraud@veritau.co.uk
By telephone: 0800 9179 247
By post to: Veritau Fraud, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA
Fraud prevention and data matching exercises
We also carry out regular fraud prevention and data matching exercises to protect ourselves against fraud.
Our 'data matching' exercises (which involve comparing computer records held by different organisations or systems) includes the Government’s National Fraud Initiative and other local initiatives. Where necessary, we also share information with the Department for Work and Pensions, other councils and relevant organisations, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
Council Tax and Business Rates fraud
Council Tax and Business Rates frauds are investigated by our counter-fraud provider Veritau.
Council Tax fraud
Council tax fraud occurs when someone knowingly gives incorrect or misleading information, or fails to inform us of a change in circumstances in order to pay less or no council tax.
For example, they may claim to be the only person living in a house, when more than one person lives there; or they may falsely claim to be a student, when they're not. It's also an offence to claim a Single Person Discount for a property that's not your main home.
For further guidance, see Council Tax discounts.
Non-domestic (business) rates fraud
Business rates fraud occurs when a person attempts to gain relief/exemptions from business rates or business grants that they're not entitled to, either by making a false statement or failing to disclose information.
See further information about Small Business Rates Relief and Business Rates - reductions for eligibility criteria.
How to report fraud
By email: counter.fraud@veritau.co.uk
By telephone: 0800 9179 247
By post to: Veritau Fraud, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA
We rely on members of the public to report all suspected cases of fraud and misuse of council funds, and we investigate all reports we receive. Any information you provide can be reported anonymously if you wish.