Welfare fraudsters spotted by face detector

Face-recognition software has resulted in at least 135 cases of suspected fraud being referred to the Department of Social Protection’s investigation unit or to the gardaí, with the department claiming it has already saved almost €1.7m as a result.

According to the department, 14 cases brought as a result of the use of the software have been finalised in court, the first in January of 2015, with custodial sentences handed down in nine of those cases.

Figures provided by the department showed that as of the end of October last year 135 cases of suspected fraud — detected via Cogent Facial Image Matching Software since its implementation — have been referred to the Department’s Special Investigations Unit and/or the gardaí.