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MEMBERS OF THE public are having their PPS numbers stolen to facilitate pandemic payment fraud, it has emerged.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) confirmed that gardaí seconded to its department are working on cases of fraud which amount to nearly €200k being stolen from the State.
Several places of employment have been affected by the scam with some victims only realising what has happened when they viewed their latest tax certificates from Revenue.
In one case, one woman said thousands of euro had been claimed on her PPS number. This matter remains under garda investigation.
In other cases, people fell victim to a scam email purporting to be from the Irish Courts Service. It asked people for their details including their PPS numbers. Over 50 people were snared by this con.
In a statement, the DSP said it “is investigating a number of fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Payments arising from cases where false identities have been used”.
The statement added: “The department takes identity fraud very seriously and any such cases are handled by its Special Investigation Unit, which includes over 20 Gardaí who are on secondment to the Department.
“A person with a concern regarding a social welfare payment having been claimed under their name and PPS Number should contact the Department immediately online here.“
Gardaí confirmed several members are working with the department.
A spokesman said: “There are 21 members of An Garda Síochána seconded to the Department of Enterprise And Social Presentation (DEASP) and all are conducting investigations into various types of Social Welfare fraud throughout the country. A number of these investigations are into the use of people’s PPS numbers. These are ongoing investigations.”
Revenue said it is conscious an individual may not be aware that he or she has been targeted by fraudsters or that PUP has been claimed under his or her PPSN.
Revenue said anyone concerned they might have targeted should access their Preliminary End of Year Statement for 2020 and Tax Credit Certificate for 2021, both of which are available through Revenue’s online service.
If a PUP figure is displayed and you didn’t receive the payments, or the amount doesn’t tally with the payments you received, the person should contact the DSP immediately.
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That’s a shame…. Middle East royalty share Andrews values towards women and victims, I would have said it was the perfect destination
@Tony Henry: Good point. He could Marry four or five 14 year olds over there and they wouldn’t blink an eye!
@Tony Henry: he could just join the Church of the Latter Day Saints and do it here. No need to travel or change religion. Plus you get more wives.
@Tony Henry: Have people forgotten what Prince Phillips rumours were as well?
When you have everything, but it’s not enough.
@Hippocampus: he is a nasty piece of work, not particularly bright staying in a child traffickers house for 4 days after telling him their friendship was over.
Why hasn’t he been arrested?
@Darren Davitt: Diplomatic Immunity…
@Ryan Maher: That old chestnut!
@Darren Davitt: not even allowed to investigate never mind arrest. Completely outside the law.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: As far as I know, only Charles and William and his eldest son have immunity.
He be right at home there
I’d avoid going down any tunnels in a fast car for a while old bean…….amazing how a nasty accident happens to a royal who doesn’t meet the standards and upsets lizzie. Be a terrible thing to happen again
He’s cancelled the trip as he realizes he should stay away from places with trafficked girls for a while.
@Steve O’Shea: The Saudis are famous for raping their Indian house staff / slaves and when they fall pregnant then dump them back into India as fast as possible…
Financially supported by his mother? Classic. I’m always dumbfounded that the brits put up with this craic and the blood line going back to Germany, which I might have accidentally read before? As I wouldn’t be investigating such things, as I couldn’t give a @€(& but think the google machine once showed me in passing.
@devvrox: I will never understand it either. They give out about welfare scroungers over there. The Royal Family are the biggest of the lot. Plus as you say they are German so they are welfare scrounging immigrants! I think that was one of the reasons for the Brexit argument?!?
@devvrox: She will rubber stamp him lol.
Given ME proclivities, I would have thought he’d well received over there.
The randy old Duke of York
He liked his school girls young
His best friend Epstein was the source
for all his party fun
It took a forensic journalist
With intricate interview skill
To bring down this predator prince
To public horror and thrill
But don’t forget his victims
They have been to Hell
They deserve justice now
It’s time HRH did tell.
He really is extremely, intellectually challenged. Perhaps lucky for him is that he doesn’t know how much trouble he is in. And as for that harridan of an ex wife, a more disgusting piece of work is rarely found. And he takes advice from her.
Two words sounds like ‘dying stunt’
@Patrick Fitzgibbon: crying grunt?
@Joey Navinski: nope try again
From my brother:
Oh the Grand Old Duke of York
He told 10,000 lies
He abused a bunch of teenage girls
And would not apologise.
And the lies he told were crap.
He grimaced like a clown.
And when on the BBC last night
They hung him upside down…
Apparently he’s heading to Paris for a weekend breakaway from all the hubbub he’s caused.
Mothers suggestion.
Is he still going to Thailand these days???
have your say