A man who conned more than £10,000 of housing and council tax benefit out of one council had enough money to buy a house – which he let out to another council.
He claimed on his mortgage application to have a business making a profit of more than £60,000 a year.
Ganiyu Anifowose, of Fulham, London, is now facing a prison sentence. In total Anifowose defrauded Hammersmith and Fulham Council out of £8,151 of housing benefit and £1,925 of council tax benefit.
He was in receipt of benefit from the council since at least April 2002 on the basis of a low income and that he lived with his wife and children at a council property.
However, the council’s anti-fraud service uncovered that Anifowose, 42, held four bank accounts into which regular deposits were made, showing that he was too wealthy to be entitled to benefit.
The property he bought with a mortgage was rented out to Havering Council.
At Kingston Crown Court, Anifowose said he had no knowledge of the information on the mortgage application form and that a man called ‘Sanny’ just asked him to sign.
He also stated that he was told that the property was for free and he did not have to pay anything.
Anifowose was convicted of four counts of benefit fraud and is due to be sentenced on Friday.
The judge warned him: “Anyone who has the mind to obtain benefits fraudulently from a local authority steals from every right-minded member of society. It is very likely these convictions will result in immediate imprisonment.”
Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “This fraudster thought that he was untouchable and assumed that he could do what he wanted without repercussions.
“Our corporate anti-fraud service work round the clock to catch benefit cheats and the message to anyone who is considering acting in such an unscrupulous fashion is that you will be caught and brought to justice just like Anifowose.”
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