Gang Jailed for Ripping Off £53 Million in Universal Credit Scam
Five criminals tied to a massive benefit fraud saga have been handed more than 25 years behind bars. This marks the end of the biggest Universal Credit scam case ever seen in England and Wales.
Bulgarian Gang Members Face Heavy Sentences
Bulgarian nationals Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, Gyunesh Ali, 34, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, were sentenced today (30 May 2024) at Wood Green Crown Court. All pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering linked to their £53 million crime spree. Their jail terms range from three to eight years.
How They Pulled Off the Scam
The gang masterminded thousands of fake Universal Credit claims over four-and-a-half years, from October 2016 to May 2021. They set up bogus accounts and helped claimants make fraudulent cash withdrawals. When cops swooped on 5 May 2021, they uncovered forged documents and wads of cash. One crook, Gyunesh Ali, fled to Bulgaria but was extradited back to the UK in February 2023.
Justice Served and More to Come
Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: “This is the largest benefit fraud prosecution ever brought to the courts in England and Wales.”
The case was a team effort between the Crown Prosecution Service, Department for Work and Pensions, and international partners in Bulgaria and Eurojust. Authorities are now pursuing confiscation orders to seize the gang’s criminal earnings. The CPS promises to keep cracking down on fraudsters and money launderers with law enforcement at home and abroad.
