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A gang of shameless Bulgarian grifters who plundered £54million from UK taxpayers within the greatest advantages con in British historical past used their ill-gotten positive factors to fund a lavish way of life.
Throughout a four-and-a-half-year spree, the gang of 5 crooks used a mix of pretend identities and actual prospects to make roughly 6,000 fraudulent Common Credit score claims, working out of three ‘advantages factories’ in north London.
They splashed out their money on designer garments, watches and even a high-end Audi sports activities automotive. On social media they shamelessly flaunted costly spa breaks and posted snaps of them holidaying overseas.
In a single submit, two of the fraudsters – Galina Nikolova, 38 and her 27-year-old lover Stoyan Stoyanov – boasted a couple of luxurious journey to Turkey, the place they visited Istanbul’s famed Grand Bazaar, posing collectively in designer DKNY shirts.
The pair of con artists additionally shared a snap canoodling on a visit to a luxurious spa in Manchester. And Nikolova posted an image of bunches of roses, gifted by her ‘love’.
Whereas in a special submit, a pouting Nikolova filmed a visit to Birmingham the place she visited the Aston Corridor stately house earlier than watching a match at Villa Park, the house floor of Aston Villa’s soccer membership.
One other clip recorded by the gang, confirmed certainly one of them shamelessly showering their flat with tons of of £20 notes, whereas a girl scrambles on her palms and knees to select them up.
Two of the criminals – Galina Nikolova, 38, and Stoyan Stoyanov, 27 – pictured collectively in 2020 whereas on vacation in Turkey
Nikolova and Stoyanov pose at an attraction throughout a lavish journey to Istanbul (left) in September 2020, earlier than later sharing a photograph collectively on a jaunt to Manchester (proper) in October 2020
On Gyunesh Ali’s cell phone that was seized, officers discovered a video displaying the fraudsters showering their flat with tons of of £20 notes
Nikolova, Stoyanov, 27, Tsvetka Todorova, 52, Gyunesh Ali, 33, and Patritsia Paneva, 26, all entered responsible pleas at Wooden Inexperienced Crown Court docket which have been yesterday accepted by the CPS
Their felony convictions mark what’s the largest profit fraud prosecution and investigation ever delivered to the courts in England and Wales – with the gang now dealing with years behind bars.
Prosecutors mentioned they operated from three ‘advantages factories’ in north London.
One of many hubs was behind a functioning nook store promoting groceries. The group gave the impression to be hiding in plain sight – with Nikolova posting pictures on social media smiling and posing behind the counter of Antonia’s Meals grocery store in Wooden Inexperienced.
The shop, in Excessive Street, specialised in Bulgaria, Turkish, Romanian and Polish meals.
The big haul of cash gained from their ‘advanced monetary internet’ of claims was laundered by a variety of accounts, then withdrawn in money – with £750,000 in financial institution notes discovered stuffed in suitcases at certainly one of their houses.
Nikolova can be seen standing behind the counter of Antonia’s Meals in Wooden Inexperienced, pouting on the digital camera alongside an unknown man
Nikolova filmed a visit to Birmingham the place Villa Park, the house floor of Aston Villa’s soccer membership.
She additionally captured a visit to the Aston Corridor stately, posing and pouting outdoors the historic constructing in a video on TikTok
And in a clip shared on social media, crooked Nikolova shares a peck on he lips with Stoyanov after she receives a present
Nikolova and Stoyanov in footage throughout their numerous journeys whereas working as a part of a felony gang of Bulgarian fraudsters
Investigators who arrested the gang and searched their properties additionally found tons of of ‘declare packs’ containing solid and false paperwork, and greater than 900 digital units.
Prosecutors mentioned the gang used the advantages system ‘like a money machine’ and on one of many seized cell phones was a video displaying the fraudsters showering their flat with tons of of £20 notes.
The companies the criminals operated claimed to help folks with acquiring a nationwide insurance coverage quantity and advantages to which they have been entitled.
However between October 2016 and Might 2021, the organised felony group made about 6,000 fraudulent claims.
They have been supported by solid paperwork together with fictitious tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and solid letters from landlords, employers and GPs.
If any claims have been rejected, the fraudsters would persevere till they have been authorised.
Prosecutors mentioned the gang used the advantages system ‘like a money machine’. Pictured: Big stacks of money discovered throughout the investigation
Nikolova and Stoyanov, 27, are two of the 5 criminals concerned in Britain’s greatest ever advantages fraud raking in nearly £54million after utilizing hundreds of pretend ID claims to gas their luxurious life
The crooked couple cuddle up collectively in an earlier snap taken in Palmers Inexperienced, north London, with Nikolova boasting: ‘The air that I breathe’ within the on-line submit from September 2020
All 5 have been arrested on Might 5, 2021, as a part of the Met’s Operation Volcanic however Ali fled to Bulgaria following his launch below investigation.
He was extradited again to Britain in February final yr and ultimately admitted conspiracy to make false representations, possession of articles to be used in a fraud and possessing felony property.
As investigators searched by their houses they discovered tons of of ‘declare packs’ containing solid and false paperwork have been discovered and seized, in addition to bundles of money stuffed in buying baggage and suitcases, a luxurious automotive and designer items together with watches, jackets, and glasses.
When confronted with the massive quantity of incriminating proof which included encrypted messages, CCTV footage, solid paperwork, seized digital units and financial institution statements, the defendants ultimately all pleaded responsible.
All 5 will likely be sentenced at Wooden Inexperienced Crown Court docket on Might 28.
As they performed their mastermind fraud, Nikolova would submit on social media dwelling a seemingly regular way of life, usually cuddled up subsequent to certainly one of her companions in crime Stoyanov.
Patritsia Paneva, 26, (left) and Tsvetka Todorova, 52, (proper) pleaded responsible alongside the 4 different criminals at Wooden Inexperienced Crown Court docket yesterday
Gyunesh Ali, 33, pleaded responsible alongside the 4 different criminals at Wooden Inexperienced Crown Court docket yesterday
The big haul of cash gained from the claims was laundered by a variety of accounts, then withdrawn in money – with £750,000 in financial institution notes discovered stuffed in suitcases at certainly one of their houses
They used their ill-gotten positive factors to fund luxurious life, shopping for designer garments, watches and even a high-end Audi sports activities automotive
On one event all through their felony spree, the couple are seen posing at a spa in Manchester. In one other they’re seen holidaying in Turkey collectively. Nikolova additionally shared footage of bunches of roses, gifted by her ‘love’.
Different snaps of the crooked duo present them cuddling up collectively on a settee or having fun with lavish journeys to Istanbul.
In the meantime, movies posted from Nikolova present her taking day journeys to Aston Corridor and going to see a match at Aston Villa’s stadium.
Nikolova can be seen standing behind the counter of Antonia’s Meals in Wooden Inexperienced in June 2020, pouting on the digital camera alongside an unknown man.
The Bulgarian meals store, which offered a spread of meats, cheeses and different delicacies, positioned on Excessive Street, has accounts overdue with Corporations Home within the means of placing it off its register.
Shameless Nikolova even boasted on-line about what luxurious journeys she had her eyes on subsequent, sharing a video of the idyllic Indonesian seaside at Penida Island, declaring: ‘#mynextdestination.’
Specialist Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Ben Reid mentioned: ‘This case is the most important profit fraud prosecution ever delivered to the courts in England and Wales.
‘This was an industrial-scale fraud dedicated by an organised felony group.
‘They carried out a sustained assault on a system designed to help probably the most weak folks in our society and handled it like a money machine to fund their very own lavish life.’
Stoyanov poses on social media with a crimson rose laid on him and a tattoo of a girl on his arm that appears like his co-conspirator Nikolova
Nikolova poses on her Instagram, the place she shares pictures along with her fellow fraudster Stoyan Stoyanov
In one other submit on social media, shameless Nikolova is seen posing in an elaborate costume
‘These convictions mark what has been the most important profit fraud prosecution and investigation ever delivered to the courts in England and Wales.
‘For years, these defendants have been concerned in an organised felony gang which conspired to create hundreds of false claims for Common Credit score, at a staggering price of greater than £50 million to the taxpayer.’
Mel Stride, Secretary of State for the Division for Work and Pensions, which led the probe with the CPS, mentioned: ‘Constructing on our success in stopping £18 billion going into the improper palms in 2022/23, these convictions underline our dedication to defending taxpayers’ cash.’
Paul Maynard MP, the minister accountable for tackling profit fraud, added: ‘Our investigators are working tirelessly to catch profit cheats and this case builds upon our plan to save lots of £1.3 billion on fraud and error.
‘On the similar time, our Fraud Plan will assist us implement a long-term technique to minimise fraud and error and guarantee worth and equity for the taxpayer.’
The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division will now pursue confiscation proceedings in opposition to the convicted gang members.
In the meantime, the Authorities is at present legislating for brand new fraud powers which can enable the DWP to request information from third events, akin to banks, that might present indicators of potential profit fraud and probably save the taxpayer as much as £600 million over the following 5 years.
Common credit score was launched in April 2013 to switch six different advantages funds.
It gives month-to-month funds to people who find themselves on low incomes or out of labor.
The roll name of Britain’s profit’s cheats:
Profit fraud in Britain peaked at £8.6billion between 2021 and 2022, nearly double what the degrees they have been at earlier than the pandemic.
It has led to dozens of convictions over the previous couple of years. Right here, MailOnline highlights a few of the crooks:
Ethel McGill, 72
McGill was labelled ‘Britain’s worst advantages cheat’ when she swindled £750,000 by hiding her father’s demise and faking dementia.
Ethel McGill, pictured, pretended she had dementia as a part of a long-running advantages and incapacity fraud
It led to the novice actress to being jailed for 5 years and eight months in July 2019 earlier than being given an additional months on her sentence in 2020 for failing to pay again £200,500 of her ill-gotten positive factors.
At Liverpool Crown Court docket, McGill admitted hiding her late father Robert Dennison’s demise for 12 years so she might declare his warfare pension and advantages.
On one event she bought a good friend to lie below a blanket and fake to be him at her house in Runcorn, Cheshire.
The CPS mentioned on the time that it was one of many ‘largest ever instances of profit fraud by a single individual’.
Ali Bana Mohamed, 42
Ali Bana Mohamed, 42, was jailed in 2022 for masterminding a decade-long rip-off to cheat taxpayers out of at the very least £1.7million
Mohamed, from Hulme in Manchester, faked the identities of just about 200 youngsters to pocket public cash.
He was jailed in 2022 for masterminding a decade-long rip-off to cheat taxpayers out of at the very least £1.7million.
He enlisted relations and buddies to help him in submitting bogus claims below about 70 completely different names, utilizing stolen identities of adults together with the pretend delivery certificates of 188 youngsters.
All of the fraudulent claims have been made on the idea that the grownup had care of named youngsters and was entitled to youngster profit and tax credit.
Mohamed admitted 29 fraud offences and was sentenced to 3 and a half years in jail in 2022. Final yr he was ordered to repay greater than £2million.
Neil Filer, 46
Filer pocketed practically £30,000 of taxpayers’ cash after falsely claiming he had an array of great medical situations – then splurged the money on cocaine and a lavish way of life.
Neil Filer (pictured) pocketed practically £30,000 of taxpayers’ cash after falsely claiming he had an array of great medical situations
He advised the Division for Work and Pensions he had diabetes, epilepsy, a number of sclerosis and right-sided weak point after a coronary heart assault – including that his well being was so unhealthy he might stroll solely quick distances.
The criminal insisted he wanted assist with washing, bathing, dressing, getting ready meals, studying and remembering to eat, resulting in in depth claims below the Private Unbiased Funds scheme.
In the meantime, on social media he made ‘boastful’ posts about an action-packed vacation to Orlando, Florida, with footage displaying him unaccompanied on a ’90ft drop slide’ at a waterpark and on a roller-coaster.
Filer pleaded responsible to a single depend of fraud, claimed £29,245 over 4 years and 9 months. He was likened to Little Britain character Andy Pipkin, who pretended to be disabled, after he was jailed for 11 months.
Mercedes Bradley, 33
Former Virgin Atlantic air stewardess Mercedes Bradley defrauded the taxpayer for £10,000 in advantages despite the fact that she had £48,000 in a secret checking account
Former Virgin Atlantic air stewardess Bradley claimed Common Credit score advantages despite the fact that she had £48,000 in a secret checking account the place she acquired funds from ‘ex-boyfriends’ – certainly one of whom transferred her greater than £30,000.
She admitted was of dishonestly failing to inform the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) of capital financial savings or investments which might have an effect on entitlement to Common Credit score between March 26 2020 and August 28 2021.
Throughout this time she splashed money on a boob job, different beauty surgical procedure and a Peloton train bike. She was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work in November 2022.
