Computer Examination - Benefit fraud
The Brief
EUROFINS FORENSIC SERVICES were asked to examine a computer belonging to a person that had been claiming full invalidity benefit for an extended period due to a back injury.
The Findings
The forensic investigation recovered digital photographs on the claimant's holiday in America, showing them taking thrill seeking rides in theme parks, playing with their children in playgrounds and other activities.
The police also suspected the person was also involved in various illegal activities; this was supported by some of the photographs recovered from the computer.
Further investigation of the Internet browser history records showed a great deal of activity on eBay, and further analysis revealed over 100 eBay accounts. The suspicion was that a lot of the items sold on eBay were stolen goods.
A case with little more than suspicions resulted in a successful conviction due to the forensic recovery of a wealth of compelling evidence from a single computer.
