SCAMMERS are targeting vulnerable households by pretending to be from a loans company and then using their details to make fake Universal Credit claims.
A housing provider has issued the warning after it became aware that some of its tenants had become victims without them even knowing it.
The tricksters are reported to knock on residents' front doors offering them a range of loans.
But in reality, the fake salesmen use your personal details to make false benefits claims under your name.
They can then continue to claim your welfare payments, even if you don't know that you're claiming them.
Thirteen Group, which manages 34,000 homes across North Tyneside and York, issued the warning on Facebook.
The message read: "Our customers have been unaware that a claim has been made using their details until our UC team has contacted them to offer support for a claim they have not made!
"If you think this may have happened to you, you should report it as a crime as soon as possible.
"If you are a Thirteen customer, please let your neighbourhood coordinator know as soon as you can so that they can offer support."
If you're not a Thirteen customer but believe you may have fallen victim to the scam, you should report it to Action Fraud as soon as possible.
The loophole in the system exploited by scammers allowed fraudsters to claim £100,000 of taxpayer's cash in advance Universal Credit payments last year.
Fraudsters were found to be making bogus claims – with one saying Harry Kane was their landlord and another mum who claimed to have six blind children.
Incredibly, a Sun investigation found that scammers could simply go online and claim thousands of pounds for children and housing cost WITHOUT needing to provide any proof.
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Scammers have also used the same tactics to target hard-up Brits on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
A spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Fraud is a callous crime fleecing money from those who really need it.
"Anyone who thinks they've been a victim of fraud should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040."
The Sun wants to Make Universal Credit Work
UNIVERSAL Credit replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment.
One million people are already receiving it and by the time the system is fully rolled out in 2023, nearly 7 million will be on it.
But there are big problems with the flagship new system – it takes 5 weeks to get the first payment and it could leave some families worse off by thousands of pounds a year.
And while working families can claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, they must find the money to pay for childcare upfront – we’ve heard of families waiting up to 6 months for the money.
Working parents across the country told us they’ve been unable to take on more hours – or have even turned down better paid jobs or more hours because of the amount their benefits would be cut by.
It’s time to Make Universal Credit work. We want the Government to:
- Get paid faster: The Government must slash the time Brits wait for their first Universal Credit payments from five to two weeks, helping stop 7 million from being pushed into debt.
- Keep more of what you earn: The work allowance should be increased and the taper rate should be slashed from 63p to 50p, helping at least 4 million families.
- Don’t get punished for having a family: Parents should get the 85 per cent of the money they can claim for childcare upfront instead of being paid in arrears.
Together, these changes will help Make Universal Credit Work.
Join our Universal Credit Facebook group or email [email protected] to share your story.
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