Fraud Gang That Falsely Claimed £50m Of Benefit Money ‘Poked Fun’ At DWP

Five members of a gang that falsely claimed more than £50 million in universal credit sent messages which “poked fun at the naivety” of the Department for Work and Pensions, a court has heard. Bulgarians Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, Gyunesh Ali, 34, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, were responsible for the largest benefit fraud and money laundering-related offences ever seen in England and Wales. Bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags and suitcases, a luxury car and designer goods including watches, jackets and glasses were found during a raid on their properties, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. #benefitfraud #mikegraham #jail