EXCLUSIVE: ‘James Bond’ benefits fiddler helps welfare fraud bill to hit £1.2bn
MAN who said he was a real-life James Bond was last night unmasked as one of Britain’s most brazen benefit cheats.
Peter Fischer claimed he worked for MI5 which required him to change his name to work as a security agent.
But he created new identities to net £85,000 in disability handouts while living in Spain.
Fischer, 67, originally from West Sussex, said he had multiple sclerosis but was filmed loading cases of wine.
He is one of nine prolific cheats who tricked the system out of almost £750,000.
Their “stunning” lies have helped create a fraud bill which now totals £1.2billion, data from the Department for Work and Pensions shows.
David Williams, 34, of Birkenhead, Merseyside, conned taxpayers out of £200,000 claiming he was penniless and had two disabled children.
a house Ann Foxley claimed £20,000, saying she only had £100 in savings but investigators found she received £306,000 from sale.
John Allcock, 62, from Deeside, said he was unable to walk and his daughter cared for him, allowing him to claim almost £30,000.
Rodger Feneley, 53, from Lincoln, fraudulently claimed £53,000 in disability benefits and income support.
Ann Foxley, 59, from Gloucester claimed £20,000 in handouts as a lone parent, saying she only had £100 in savings.
But investigators found she received £306,000 from a house sale.
Lisa Rose, 42, from Portsmouth and Amanda Alton, 41, from Derby, got a combined £250,000 by claiming they both lived alone, but surveillance showed they were married.
Robert Nelson, 61, from Birmingham worked as a gas fitter and got £30,000 in disability benefits while Stephanie Walker, 27, from Nottingham, was paid £65,000 saying she lived alone.
All admitted fraud offences or have been found guilty.
Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be stunned.”
l To report a cheat call the fraud hotline on 0800 854 440.
