UK Covid support fund fraud may top £4bn

Britain’s National Audit Office (NAO) praised the country’s government for rolling out support schemes for employees and the self-employed ahead of schedule when Covid-19 forced much of the economy to close down in March.

British companies may have fraudulently claimed up to £3.9bn (€4.3bn) in public money by accepting funds from a salary support scheme while ordering furloughed staff to still work during lockdown, the UK’s spending watchdog has said.

Britain’s National Audit Office (NAO) praised the country’s government for rolling out support schemes for employees and the self-employed ahead of schedule when Covid-19 forced much of the economy to close down in March.