Man jailed for £172,000 benefits fraud and £62,000 scheme claims
Atikur Rahman has been jailed for 40 months after admitting a series of fraud offences involving benefits claims made using stolen identities. The case matters because he took £172,000 from public funds and also tried to claim more than £62,000 through a Covid-era scheme intended to support restaurants.
Between July 2015 and May 2021, Rahman used 26 identities and fictitious details about companies, jobs and children to make more than 40 claims for benefits including Universal Credit, tax credits and child benefit. HMRC found 20 false registrations for Eat Out to Help Out and stopped any payment; the scheme offered diners £10 off eligible meals from Monday to Wednesday. Rahman was also barred from acting as a company director for eight years.
In short
- Rahman received 40 months in prison for benefits fraud.
- He used 26 identities to make more than 40 claims.
- HMRC blocked £62,000 in attempted scheme claims.
Explained simply
Universal Credit, tax credits and child benefit are forms of government support for people who meet set conditions. Claims are checked using details such as a person’s identity, income and family circumstances.
During the Covid pandemic, the Eat Out to Help Out scheme offered a discount to diners eating at eligible restaurants on certain weekdays. Restaurants could register to take part, and HMRC was responsible for checking registrations and payments.
The case involved claims made in other people’s names and false information about companies, work and children. It matters because benefit fraud can divert money intended for public support, while schemes such as Eat Out to Help Out rely on accurate claims from businesses.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Benefits fraudster who stole £172,000 of taxpayer cash and tried to fleece £62,000 from Rishi Sunak’s Covid Eat Out To Help Out scheme is jailed for 40 months”.