Benefit fraud cost taxpayer £200k

Public asked to act on suspicions

Benefit fraud cost the Manx taxpayer more than £200,000 in the six months up to September.

The figures come as Treasury chiefs are urging the public to report anyone they think could be cheating the welfare system.

More than 200 individuals were accused of making false claims this year - eight were successfully prosecuted over payments ranging between two and thirteen thousand pounds.

Secretly cohabiting couples and people claiming unemployment benefit while working were among the most common abuses.

Anyone suspected of fraud can be reported anonymously via the government website, by emailing investigations@gov.im, or by calling 0808 1624 043.