PRESTON – Two Blackburn men involved in a £50,000 Universal Credit scam will be sentenced on September 25, following a mention hearing held at Preston Crown Court.
The individuals, Rafiq Master, 49, and Khalid Yusuf, 68, were both charged in connection with the fraudulent scheme, which spanned over two years and exploited the UK’s benefits system.
Abuse of Position at the DWP
Rafiq Master, of London Walk, Blackburn, was a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) executive officer at the time of the offences. He faces charges including:
Acquiring criminal property (£28,889 deposited into his account)
Unauthorised access to a computer with intent to commit fraud
Fraud by abuse of position
Master is accused of leveraging his role within the DWP to manipulate the system for personal financial gain.
Guilty Plea and Proceeds of Crime
His co-defendant, Khalid Yusuf, of Wimberley Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property, namely fraudulently obtained Universal Credit payments made to his account between October 2018 and November 2020.
During the court hearing overseen by Judge Ian Unsworth, it was confirmed that a pre-sentence report is required for Yusuf ahead of the sentencing. Additionally, a proceeds of crime timetable has been set to determine asset recovery related to the fraud.
Though Judge Unsworth presided over the mention hearing, he will not necessarily oversee the sentencing in September.
The case highlights continued efforts by UK authorities to prosecute internal fraud and recover funds misappropriated through the welfare system.
