Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

A Bulgarian drained 2.2 million pounds from the UK social system

Photo: EPA/BGNES

A Bulgarian siphoned 2.2 million pounds from the money of British taxpayers, the "Sunday Telegraph" reports. The scheme involved flying Bulgarians to Britain, transporting them to jobcenters to apply for benefits and returning them to their homeland.

For four years, Tanyo Danchev used the identities of other people with the intention of claiming Universal Credit. According to the investigation authorities, he controlled the bank cards of the other Bulgarians involved in the scheme and withdrew over two million pounds in cash from their accounts.

The 39-year-old Bulgarian was recently sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to 29 counts of fraud at Snaresbrook Court.

Earlier in the year, a group of five Bulgarians were convicted of the biggest fraud with benefits in the UK, which cost more than 50 million pounds, BNR correspondent in London Veselin Paunov recalls.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The memorial plaque honouring Dimitar Nachovich

Svishtov celebrates 169 years since the first chitalishte was founded in Bulgaria

Svishtov on the Danube is celebrating 169 years since the first Bulgarian chitalishte was founded. The official celebrations will take place at the memorial plaque honouring Dimitar Nachovich. The chitalishte in Svishtov was founded on 30..

published on 1/30/25 7:35 AM
Maria Drencheva

Terms and conditions for applying for AI excellence program EXPLORER presented today

The terms and conditions for applying for the new stage of the EXPLORER programme of the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology INSAIT at the St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia are to be presented today...

published on 1/30/25 6:35 AM

Visa issuance for tourists and workers to be speeded up

Bulgaria's Schengen membership is a great opportunity, but also a challenge. In order to make the most of this opportunity, administrative barriers that hinder the tourism sector must be removed. This was agreed by participants at a meeting on the..

published on 1/29/25 6:21 PM