Sandwell Council’s fraud team has stopped fraud and error to the value of over £800k.
The team has also stopped 24 people from fraudulently using a parking Blue Badge – meant to help residents who have a disability – and have successfully prosecuted 13 of those people in court.
The figures have been released in the annual counter fraud report from the council’s Audit Risk and Assurance Committee.
Committee Chair Councillor Liam Preece said: “Fraud now represents over 40% of all crime nationally so the council has stepped up its actions to stop these criminals stealing from Sandwell taxpayers. I’d like to thank all of the teams involved for their vigilance. I hope that the work of our dedicated anti-Fraud officers makes any fraudster thinking about stealing from the residents of our borough that we are watching and waiting to stop you in your tracks. “
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Paul Moore commented: “The amount of money involved in these thefts only gives us greater resolve to support our teams of investigators and to work with West Midlands Police and to support the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative. We need to be clear – fraud against the council is theft from every Sandwell resident and we will use the full force of the law to stop it.”
Stopping scammers in Sandwell
During International Fraud Awareness Week, the council launched a social media campaign to raise public awareness to the most common scams and providing the public with key messages to stay vigilant to the threat fraud and criminal present. The subjects covered included online shopping scams, online and text message scams, postal fraud and front door scams, fake QR codes and friends or family ‘needs help’ scams.
You can see our guide to scams.
Case studies
Direct Payment fraud
Conviction of a Sandwell resident who fraudulent obtained Direct Payments resulting in an overpayment of £27,500. In January 2026 he was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court following a guilty plea to an offence contrary to Fraud Act 2006. He was sentenced to 24 months custody, suspended for 21 months. The council is continuing with proceedings under the Proceeds of the Crime Act to recover the loses and associated costs.
Blue Badge fraud
An individual who was found to the misusing the Blue Badge of an elderly relative. He was using the badge to park while at work. He pleaded guilty to a road traffic offence of misusing an blue badge and was fined £120.00 as well as ordered to repay costs of £350.00.
Experts in catching fraudsters
All Investigation Officers within the Counter Fraud Unit are Accredited Counter Fraud Specialists Two of the team are also National Crime Agency qualified Financial Investigators and the Counter Fraud Lead is a Senior Appropriate Officer.
Anyone wishing to report any suspected fraud within Sandwell can do so by emailing fraud_investigation@sandwell.gov.uk or by calling 0121 569 2650.
