A teacher has been left in a predicament, having to repay hundreds of pounds to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after someone else claimed benefits under his name. Michael Bene, 51, has been making payments to the DWP following their issuance of a £763 advance to an individual who falsely claimed to be him.

Mr Bene has faced difficulties in communicating with DWP officials due to his lack of knowledge regarding security questions set up by the fraudster.

He has provided evidence that he was in Scotland when a face-to-face meeting, as part of the claim process, took place in Cheshire. Despite living in Birmingham, Mr Bene discovered in 2023 that fraudulent claims had been made using his identity in Surrey, Birmingham, and Crewe.

One of these false claims was successful, result

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