Interview under caution letter for universal credit

[zunera mahmood]

Hi
I have recieved a caution letter from DWP to come for the interview on the 21 Feb. This is regarding a universal credit advance payment which , a person from Facebook conned me as took all my details and said it's a government scheme which they pay people who dont claim benefits and I being very naive about all this .I accepted her offer and gave my details to her and she set up the account and told me that her friend works for DWP and will accept the details.but she wanted commission and I thought as he works in the department that's alright. I dont know how he did it , but I got 1525.44 pounds in my account in 2 hrs .than she said that now transfer 1000 back to her account which I did as her commission .
I didnt know that this was illegitimate or illegal .
But now I have this letter that wrong information has been put to claim these funds which I didnt put in the first place. This was all done by that fraud person.
I have all the chat details and the account details which I have transferred the money to .
Please can you help me as I'm quite stressed out as I didnt do anything , I was conned and misguided .

[zunera mahmood]

Do I need to take any lawyer with me for the interview ?? Will they put any criminal charges against me ? I'm really stressed plz can any one help me ?

[Casa]

Hi
I have recieved a caution letter from DWP to come for the interview on the 21 Feb. This is regarding a universal credit advance payment which , a person from Facebook conned me as took all my details and said it's a government scheme which they pay people who dont claim benefits and I being very naive about all this .I accepted her offer and gave my details to her and she set up the account and told me that her friend works for DWP and will accept the details.but she wanted commission and I thought as he works in the department that's alright. I dont know how he did it , but I got 1525.44 pounds in my account in 2 hrs .than she said that now transfer 1000 back to her account which I did as her commission .
I didnt know that this was illegitimate or illegal .
But now I have this letter that wrong information has been put to claim these funds which I didnt put in the first place. This was all done by that fraud person.
I have all the chat details and the account details which I have transferred the money to .
Please can you help me as I'm quite stressed out as I didnt do anything , I was conned and misguided .

You most certainly need to seek advice from a legal professional specialising in criminal law. You may find it very difficult to convince the DWP that you were so naive you didn't think handing over £1,000 as commission to someone on Facebook was likely to be part of a fraud.

See the information from Citizens Advice in the link below.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benef ... fit-fraud/

[zunera mahmood]

Thank you for replying ...so definitely its worth taking the lawyer with me ..any idea what will the outcome be as its the first time I am dealing with these frauds.

[Casa]

Thank you for replying ...so definitely its worth taking the lawyer with me ..any idea what will the outcome be as its the first time I am dealing with these frauds.

No one can predict the outcome, but at the very least you will have to repay the full amount you have received illegally, including the £1,000 you have transferred to your Facebook 'friend's' bank account.

Have you read the guidance given in the link I posted? I strongly suggest you follow the advice given there.

[Amber]

You need to report what you are saying to the police and provide the police with her bank details that you transferred to, get a crime reference number then see a criminal law solicitor.

[JB007]

Warnings were put out ages ago, look on the search engines.

Here is one-

SCAM ALERT - Watch out for Universal Credit scammers
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/b ... t-scammers

[JB007]

I dont know how he did it , but I got 1525.44 pounds in my account in 2 hrs .than she said that now transfer 1000 back to her account which I did as her commission.

They put in a false claim for you with any details to increase the payment eg extra children, and asked for an upfront UC payment - that you then pay back in up to 12 months. It's a loan that you pay back, if it is not a false/benefit fraud, claim. DWP have wised up to this so I assume your UC claim must have happened ages ago and they have only just caught up with you?

[zunera mahmood]

Hi
Thanks for the reply..I have got a criminal lawyer appointed..but he said that I dont have to say anything..just no comment and he will prepare a statement for me and read it out .
He has not advised me to contact the police at this time ..I dont know why ? Though ..
Any idea ot suggestions u can share with me ??

[Nahima18]

Do I need to take any lawyer with me for the interview ?? Will they put any criminal charges against me ? I'm really stressed plz can any one help me ?

HI i have the same issue , i been called in , have you had your interview.