The Council faces risks from fraud, theft, money laundering, bribery and corruption, both from within the organisation and from outside. The National Audit Office and Public Sector Fraud Authority estimate that public sector fraud results in losses of between £55 billion and £81 billion every year.

Telford & Wrekin Council is committed to preventing and dealing with fraud and corruption. We have policies, procedures and checks in place to protect public money, and these are regularly reviewed to keep up with changing criminal activity. However, because the Council provides a wide range of services, there is still a risk that offences may occur.

The Investigation team, part of governance, audit and procurement, looks into reports of suspected fraud, theft, money laundering, irregularities, bribery and corruption that affect the Council. Their work helps protect public funds and ensures support is available for those who genuinely need it. Where appropriate, the Council may take legal action against offenders, recover lost funds and publicise successful outcomes to help prevent further fraud.

View information about the types of fraud we investigate

Proceeds of crime

The Investigation team includes a qualified financial investigator who is authorised by the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. If someone is suspected of gaining money or assets through crime, the investigator can examine their finances to help gather evidence, identify any illegal gains and understand the full extent of the offence.

If a person is convicted, the investigator may also look into their finances to assess how much they benefited from their criminal activity. The Council can ask the court to order the offender to repay this money, helping ensure they do not profit from crime.

Financial investigations can also support other Council services where criminal activity is suspected, including rogue trader cases investigated by trading standards.

Reporting fraud

If you suspect that a person, group or organisation is committing fraud or another offence against Telford & Wrekin Council, you can report your concerns online.

Complete our online form to report suspected fraud

Last updated : 6 November 2026

The examples below highlight some of the most common types of fraud and related offences affecting the Council. However, this is not a complete list, and people may use other methods to obtain money, services or benefits dishonestly.

Agency worker fraud

An employment agency supplies an agency worker to carry out agreed duties for a specified period.

Examples include:

  •  seeking payment for time not worked

  • billing at excessive rates

  • delivering work that falls short of the required standard.

Benefit / council tax fraud

Find out how to report suspected fraud involving Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support on our Benefit and Council Tax Fraud page. This includes fraud related to benefits, discounts, exemptions and reductions awarded by the Council. Fraud can also be committed to avoid paying council tax. For example, a landlord may provide a false tenancy agreement to avoid council tax charges on an empty property or a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Blue badge fraud

Blue Badge fraud occurs when a Blue Badge is used dishonestly, such as by someone who is not entitled to use it, or when a badge is altered, copied or used after it has expired. Learn more about reporting suspected Blue Badge fraud by visiting our Blue Badge parking permit page.

Business rates fraud

Business rates fraud occurs when a person or business deliberately provides false information to reduce, avoid or claim relief from business rates that they are not entitled to. Learn more about reporting suspected business rates fraud.

Employee fraud

Employee fraud happens when a Council employee deliberately misuses Council systems, information, resources or procedures for personal gain or to benefit someone else.

Examples include:

  • creating false customer records or bank accounts to obtain payments fraudulently

  • processing fraudulent benefit, grant or refund claims for friends, family members or associates

  • authorising payments to themselves or someone they know without proper approval

  • claiming travel, subsistence or other expenses that were not incurred, or exaggerating the costs

  • altering timesheets or other records without permission

  • forging signatures or approval records to authorise payments or transactions

  • working elsewhere while claiming sick leave from the Council

  • misusing flexible working arrangements for personal benefit

  • carrying out personal business during time paid for by the Council

  • sharing confidential Council information for personal gain or financial reward

  • changing customer accounts or debt records in exchange for money, gifts or other incentives. 

False insurance claims

People can make a claim against the Council if they believe they have suffered an injury, loss or damage because of something the Council is responsible for, such as an accident on a public footpath.

Insurance claim fraud happens when someone deliberately provides false or misleading information to obtain compensation they are not entitled to.

Examples include:

  • exaggerating injuries or damage from a genuine accident

  • inflating the value of lost, stolen or damaged items

  • claiming for items that never existed

  • making a claim for an accident that did not happen

  • deliberately causing or staging an accident to support a claim

  • claiming compensation from the Council for an incident that occurred elsewhere

  • submitting inflated invoices or including work and items unrelated to the claim.

Money laundering

Money laundering is the process of making money gained through crime appear legal. Criminals do this to hide where the money came from and make it look as though it was earned legitimately.

In some cases, criminals may use money from illegal activities to pay for Council services, such as renting business premises. They may then ask for a refund so the money appears to come from a legitimate source.

Using money obtained through fraud or other criminal activity can be a money laundering offence.

Procurement fraud

Procurement is the process of buying goods, works and services to meet the needs of individuals, communities and the Council. Council spending covers everything from everyday items such as stationery to large-scale projects like street lighting and building works, as well as specialist services including waste management and adult social care.

Do you know of a person or organisation supplying goods or services that do not meet the Council’s requirements?

Examples include:

  • suppliers working together to unfairly influence or restrict competition during a tender process

  • Council employees accepting bribes, gifts, hospitality, services or other benefits in exchange for favouring a supplier or contractor

  • employees making fraudulent payments or deliberately overpaying suppliers

  • employees approving invoices for goods or services that are for personal use rather than Council business

  • suppliers submitting invoices for work not completed, goods not delivered, or costs that were intentionally omitted from the original quote or tender

  • suppliers charging more than once for the same goods or services

  • suppliers inflating labour rates or applying excessive mark-ups to goods and materials

  • suppliers providing goods or services that do not meet the agreed specification, quality standards or contractual requirements

  • suppliers falsifying or exaggerating performance data to secure higher payments

  • suppliers delivering poor-quality goods or services while claiming they meet the required standard.

Recruitment fraud

Recruitment and selection is the process of finding and hiring the right person for a job. The process must be fair, open and follow employment laws and Council procedures.

Examples include:

  • giving a job applicant an unfair advantage during the recruitment process

  • providing false or misleading information on an application form, CV or interview

  • using fake qualifications, references or employment history

  • presenting forged or altered identity documents

  • working without the legal right to work in the UK

  • hiring a friend or family member without following the proper recruitment process

  • failing to declare a personal relationship or conflict of interest with an applicant

  • changing interview scores or recruitment records to influence the outcome

  • claiming professional qualifications or registrations that are not valid

  • creating a role or appointment for personal gain rather than a genuine business need.

Social care and personal budgets (direct payments) fraud

Social care fraud happens when someone deliberately provides false information or misuses money intended to pay for care and support.

Examples include:

  • Not telling the Council about income, savings, property or other assets to qualify for financial support.

  • Failing to report changes in finances that could reduce or stop support payments.

  • Someone acting on behalf of another person, such as a representative or attorney, providing false information to obtain financial assistance.

Direct payments give people more choice and control over how their care is arranged and paid for. However, they can also be open to misuse.

Examples include:

  • claiming a larger personal budget than is needed to meet care needs

  • hiding savings, property or other assets to receive a higher level of support

  • applying for or receiving Personal Budgets from more than one council for the same care needs

  • claiming payment for care that was never provided

  • submitting false receipts, invoices or records to account for spending

  • using personal budget funds to buy goods or services that are not related to care needs

  • paying a close family member to provide care when they are not eligible to be paid

  • failing to report a reduction in care needs

  • a carer using someone's personal budget for their own benefit

  • continuing to claim payments or submit timesheets after the person receiving care has died

  • financially abusing or taking advantage of a vulnerable person.

Grant fraud

Grants are available to help support local residents, community groups and businesses. Some grants are funded by the Council, while others are provided on behalf of Government departments.

Grant fraud happens when someone deliberately provides false or misleading information to receive funding they are not entitled to, or misuses grant money after it has been awarded.

Examples include:

  • providing false information to qualify for a grant

  • hiding income, savings or other details that could affect eligibility

  • using someone else's details or documents to apply for funding

  • claiming for activities, projects or costs that do not exist

  • spending grant money on purposes other than those agreed

  • submitting false receipts, invoices or evidence of expenditure

  • exaggerating costs or claiming for the same expense more than once

  • providing false information to show that grant conditions have been met

  • misrepresenting how grant funding has been used.

Mandate fraud

Mandate fraud happens when a fraudster pretends to be a genuine supplier, organisation or person and asks for bank account details to be changed. The aim is to divert payments into their own account instead of the correct one.

For example, a fraudster may contact the Council claiming to be an existing supplier and ask for future payments to be sent to a new bank account. They may use emails, letterheads, websites or phone calls that look genuine to make the request appear legitimate.

Examples include:

  • requesting a change of bank details using a fake email address that closely resembles a genuine supplier's

  • impersonating a supplier, contractor or other payee to redirect payments

  • providing false bank account details to receive payments intended for someone else

  • using copied branding, email signatures or websites to make fraudulent requests appear genuine

  • intercepting communications and changing bank details on invoices or payment instructions

  • contacting staff by phone and claiming urgent action is needed to update payment information.

Refund fraud

Refund fraud happens when someone makes a payment to the Council using stolen or fraudulent bank card details and then asks for the money to be refunded to a different account. If the genuine cardholder later reports the payment as unauthorised, the Council can end up losing both the original payment and the refund.

This type of fraud often involves council tax or business rates accounts.

Examples include:

  • making a payment with stolen card details and then requesting a refund to a different bank account

  • pretending to be the account holder in order to obtain a refund

  • claiming to have moved out of a property or stopped trading from a business premises shortly after making a payment and then requesting a refund

  • providing false information to create a credit balance on an account

  • using stolen or cloned payment cards to make payments that are later refunded to the fraudster

  • requesting a refund to an account that does not belong to the original payer

  • using false identities or documents to support a refund request.

Fraudulently obtaining Council money, services or support

This is not a complete list. People, groups or businesses may commit fraud in other ways to obtain Council money, services or other benefits. This can happen when someone deliberately provides false or misleading information, or fails to tell the Council about information they are required to report.

If you suspect someone has obtained money, services or support dishonestly, or has failed to disclose relevant information, you can report your concerns to the Council.

Last updated : 6 November 2026

Telford & Wrekin Council is committed to operating with openness, integrity and accountability. The Speak Up (Whistleblowing) Policy enables employees to raise concerns about suspected wrongdoing safely and confidentially, ensuring issues can be addressed appropriately and without fear of reprisal.

Our Speak Up (whistleblowing) Policy

Our Speak Up (whistleblowing) Policy provides a safe and confidential way for employees to report concerns.

It aims to:

  • help employees feel confident about speaking up when they have a concern

  • encourage concerns to be raised as soon as possible so they can be looked into and resolved

  • provide clear ways to report concerns, including anonymously if preferred

  • keep employees informed about the progress of their concern where appropriate

  • allow employees to raise a concern with someone else if they are unhappy with the response they receive

  • protect employees from unfair treatment or victimisation for speaking up in good faith.

The Speak Up (whistleblowing) Policy applies to:

  • council employees

  • agency staff working for the Council

  • temporary employees

  • apprentices

  • casual workers

  • consultants

  • self-employed contractors

  • volunteers

  • members.

Speak up if you reasonably believe any of the following has happened, is happening, or may happen.

  • A criminal offence has been committed or is likely to be committed.

  • The Council, or someone working for it, has broken or may break the law.

  • Bullying, harassment or sexual harassment.

  • A miscarriage of justice.

  • A risk to someone's health or safety.

  • Damage to the environment.

  • An attempt to hide information about any of the above.

  • Behaviour that falls below the standards expected by the Council.

  • A breach of the Council's Constitution, policies or Code of Conduct.

  • Improper, unethical or dishonest behaviour.

  • Misuse of Council money or resources.

If you think something is wrong, report it to the Audit and Governance Investigation team

Last updated : 5 November 2026

Everyone can help prevent fraud and other dishonest activity. If you suspect someone is receiving Council services they are not entitled to, please report it. Providing as much information as possible will help us investigate your concerns.

Complete our online form to report suspected fraud

You can also contact the Investigation team using the details below.

Investigation team

Telford & Wrekin Council
Darby House
Lawn Central
Telford
TF3 4JA

Email: Investigations@telford.gov.uk
Telephone: 01952 383839

Alternatively, raise the concern with your manager, service delivery manager, assistant director, head teacher or trade union representative.

If I report fraud, will I remain anonymous?

We treat all reports of suspected fraud confidentially. You do not have to give your name, but if you do, an investigation officer may contact you if they need more information.

We will not tell the person or organisation you have reported who made the report. However, they may make assumptions about where the information came from. If this happens, we will not confirm or share your identity.

Subject to legal restrictions, you will be informed of the investigation’s outcome, but you will not receive a copy of the report.

Last updated : 6 November 2026