DWP warns UK households who DON'T claim benefits after addresses 'hijacked'

The Department for Work and Pensions is sending letters to UK households who aren't claiming benefits - after addresses were "hijacked". A UK resident has written into the Guardian newspaper consumer affairs section to voice their anxiety over the trend.

Writing into the newspaper, they said: "For the last three months, we have been receiving mail addressed to a stranger. We have lived at our address for over 40 years. They have been from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ), the police about speeding tickets, and our local council.

"He’s even put his name on our water bills. My guess is he is trying to show proof of address to get benefits. I have sent it all back explaining this person is a fraudster, even alerting Action Fraud. How can I stop our home being used for fraud?"

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Responding, one reader wrote: "In my experience it's wishful thinking that anyone at one of the big companies will take any notice of this. We moved here nearly four years ago and one of the previous occupiers (a middle ranking professional apparently) appears to be administratively chaotic.

"Hence we still get bank statements for him and he even continues to insure this property. The dimwit didn't leave a forwarding address either. I've tried numerous times to tell his credit card provider that he no longer lives here but they tell me 'you're not the customer so computer says no'."

"We've been having a similar issue. Debt collection letters started arriving for a name we didn't recognise and we sent them back. We've been at our address for 5 years and it wasn't a name of a previous occupant," a second wrote.

"Perhaps stating the obvious here but is it any wonder why fraud is so prevalent when it appears, in all honesty, absolutely sod all is done about it?" a third asked. And another said: "Whilst this will be onerous, the Data Protection Act 2018 requires organisations holding your personal data to keep it accurate and up to date.

"Send a letter stating that this person is not a resident (giving evidence if you can) and stating that you expect them to update their records. If this doesn't happen, raise a complaint with them and then with the Information Commissioner (ICO)."