WEST Dunbartonshire Council is working with the Cabinet Office and Audit Scotland on the National Fraud Initiative on a counter fraud campaign.

The Council will start a major data matching exercise, in October 2016, to cross-check personal information about people and flag-up circumstances that might suggest the existence of fraud or error.

The Corporate Fraud Team will investigate inconsistencies in information held by the authority including council tax, housing, discounts, blue badge fraud, student claims and insurance fraud and take action where appropriate.

Last year the Council’s Corporate Fraud Team identified £241,691 of fraud and error in West Dunbartonshire and referred 11 cases to the Procurator Fiscal.

The Council is currently actively pursuing all outstanding money.

The Council is encouraging residents who think they may have been claiming the wrong benefits or have failed to report a change in their circumstances to come forward.

Councillor Kath Ryall, Convener of Corporate Services, said: “I passionately believe in welfare benefits which help support residents, many of whom are the most vulnerable in our society. When people abuse this state support by over-claiming they are committing fraud and misusing tax-payers funds.

“Previous data-sharing by the Council has successfully and quickly identified cases that needed further investigation. I would encourage residents to come forward now so we can help them rather than wait to be caught and face charges.”