Fraud Investigator

Job summary

Do you have an interest in dealing with criminal investigations and/or law enforcement? Are you interested in helping vulnerable people by tackling criminal activity? Are you motivated to deliver the right outcomes in challenging situations? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be the place for you.

This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is bigger than ever. DWPs Economic Serious and Organised Crime team is the arm of DWP's Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt Directorate that deals with complex and sophisticated attacks on DWP benefits and grants payments - usually by Organised Crime Groups.

DWP are Looking for people with an interest in investigations to help tackle organised criminality against DWP through prosecution and/or disruption activities.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt (CFCD) Directorate on a team committed to tackling fraud, encountered through our Economic and Serious Organised Crime (ESOC) team. You will be at the forefront of tackling serious and organised crimes against DWP, which often has Links into wider criminality of modern slavery, human trafficking, and identity fraud.

You will work across multiple Law enforcement agencies, on high profile and serious fraud operations involving many suspects in multi-million-pound criminality.

Additionally, as work streams change and DWP reacts to the changing behaviours in criminal activity, investigators must keep pace with modern methods of criminality: this includes the increase in Money Laundering activity and the use of crypto currencies to mask monies derived from fraudulent activity

ESOC Threats and Prioritisation involve:

• Modern Slavery / Human Trafficking – vulnerable people exploited to abuse the benefit system.
• Web Enabled Fraud – Universal Credit (UC) and other online frauds on an industrial scale.
• Insider Threat – internal abuse of position to facilitate fraud.
• Identity Fraud – large scale use of false and hijacked identities to attack the welfare system.
• Organised Economic Crime – large scale abuse of the system including organised criminals setting up fake / shell companies providing false invoices / payslips to claim benefits and payments.

Additionally, as work streams change and DWP reacts to the changing behaviours in criminal activity, the ESOC investigators must keep pace with modern methods of criminality, this includes the use of crypto currencies to mask monies derived from fraudulent activity.

Job description

DWP is the lead agency for tackling economic serious and organised criminality against the welfare system. DWP’s ESOC investigators are part of a national team with geographical representation throughout the UK. We are responsible for, and are committed to detecting, preventing, dismantling and prosecuting organised criminals facilitating benefit offences and abuse. Serious offenders often receive substantial custodial sentences.

The role of ESOC is primarily to investigate fraud in the welfare system perpetuated by organised criminal groups. This mostly involves working across multi law enforcement agencies on high profile and serious fraud operations involving multi suspects in multi-million-pound criminality.

Key Tasks Include:

• Working directly to an Officer in Charge (OiC) of a criminal investigation.
• Undertake interviews under caution in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
• Submit prosecution files in accordance with Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National File Standard guidance.
• To undertake tasks as directed by an OiC to support the progression of investigations, including, but not exclusively, as listed.
• To research a variety of information / intelligence sources and collate relevant information that will be required for investigation and evaluate information in accordance with legislation and guidance.
• Complete and approve Requests for Information (RFIs) as required.
• To record, retain and review material collected during the course of the criminal investigation for disclosure purposes – such as banking information, benefit systems, CCTV footage and statements from witnesses.
• To understand the need for a range of interventions, including ‘prevention’, ‘disruption’ and ‘prosecution’ in ESOC investigations.
• To handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately, ensuring all information / evidence is processed in accordance with legislation and guidance.
• To attend Court hearings as directed by the OiC or to assist the OiC.
• To complete Disclosure Schedules as advised by the OiC, providing CPS with schedules of any unused material and identifying any material that undermines the case for the prosecution or assists the case for the defence.
• To process enquiries / applications in line with established procedures for handling and disclosure of information relevant to Court Proceedings.
• To prepare information for disclosure and disseminate to CPS within agreed timescales.
• To apply initiative and knowledge gained in the handling of complex enquiries.
• To quickly respond to emerging threats by disrupting live attempts to defraud DWP benefit systems.
• To demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering a high standard of service at all times by managing own workload, prioritising to ensure all deadlines are met.
• To be aware of the Unit’s objectives and ensure maintenance of, and adherence to, quality standards, service level agreements and customer requirements, highlighting areas for improvement where appropriate.

Person specification

• A flexible, agile outlook and approach.
• Innovation, drive and creative thinking.
• Honesty, integrity and probity.
• A personal demeanour that inspires confidence and loyalty.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to work in a challenging and rewarding environment and ensure actions are completed in a timely manner.

Key criteria

Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following Key Criteria:

• You can research and understand complex information, taking responsibility for making effective decisions while being able to explain how they were reached in a clear and concise way.
• You can demonstrate clear and concise communication skills; use a variety of communication methods including digital and telephony with the ability to express ideas, adding value to ways of working.
• You can develop effective relationships with key stakeholders and organisations, working collaboratively with colleagues within teams and across the organisation.
• You display strong IT skills to enable navigation of a range of computer systems and software packages.

Learning requirements

To apply for this post all candidates must be willing to attain, or already hold at least one of the following:

1. Accredited Counter Fraud Investigations Program (ACFIP).
2. Counter Fraud Investigator Apprenticeship (CFIA).
3. An equivalent such as PINs (Professionalism in Security).
4. SAO accreditation via the National Crime Agency.

DWP endorses the use of apprenticeships and successful candidates meeting the Counter Fraud Investigator Apprenticeship (CFIA) eligibility criteria will be required to complete this learning programme and achieve the level 4 award (as a condition of their appointment).

CFIA includes face to face learning elements which the applicant needs to be aware could require them to travel outside of daily travelling times and incur overnight stays away from home.

More details on what is involved in this learning can be found in the link below:

Counter fraud investigator / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

Candidates are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the requirements of this learning.

You must be willing to attain the appropriate accreditation to undertake the technical functions of the role. This may be attained through completion of a qualification or apprenticeship.

Where a qualification is not achieved, it would not be possible to fulfil the role requirements and candidates will be redeployed, within CFCD where possible, following Workforce Management Policy and Procedures. If you have questions about equivalent qualifications, please contact the vacancy holder.

Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP)

The DWP is committed to investing in people and ensuring their teams are a professional workforce. It is a requirement of counter fraud post holders within DWP to attain, and retain, membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) at Practitioner level. This means if you are successful in applying for this role you will need to undertake an annual self-assessment to evidence your knowledge, skills, and experience within your role to attain and retain practitioner level membership. We provide post holders with a learning routeway to support them in achieving as well as any workplace adjustments they may require. Failure to attain membership of the GCFP at practitioner level may result in DWP seeking an alternative role for you.

In applying you will have indicated that you have read and fully understood the professional requirements for this Counter Fraud Investigator role.

Travel requirements

You will be required to attend:

• Briefings and operational planning with external stakeholders such as Police, Lawyers, Barristers.
• Interviews under Caution.
• Attendance at Court as required.
• Business and private addresses to obtain witness statements.

Successful candidates will need to be able to travel, retrieve evidence and be available at short notice. Due to the nature of the role this could be at any location nationally and during unsociable hours (both night/day and weekends). A departmental vehicle OR hire car may be made available if you hold a full UK driving license.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,137, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £9,310 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Stage 1 - Application Form

Please complete the first stage short application form, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2 – Written Application and Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a personal statement detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role. In no more than 1250 words, please carefully consider the question below. You should address this when constructing your personal statement. You should also consider both the job description and person specification details above when providing your evidence.

• Please describe a situation where you were required to gather a large amount of data, to analyse it objectively, to make a decision or a recommendation based on the results. Explain how you considered options and risks and how you involved others.

Your personal statement needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

In the event of a low number of applications, candidates may be progressed to interview without their written application being sifted. For this reason, the timeline is subject to change depending on the approach we take.

CV

You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your job history, previous skills and experience.

In the previous skills/experience section you should detail your employment and/or education history relevant to this vacancy (we recommend a maximum of 500 words).

The CV will also cover your work history (we recommend you include up to the last 3 roles of employment history, plus any others that you feel are relevant) and qualifications.

Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.

**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 17/02/2026**

The sift is scheduled to be held from 18/02/2026 to 03/04/2026. These dates may be subject to change.

Stage 3 - Interview

If you pass the written application sift with the required score you will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.

The interviews will be conducted face to face. Where possible the interviews will take place at the locations listed in the Candidate Pack (slide 2), however candidates may be expected to travel to an alternative location as required.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend a face-to-face interview, please ensure you state those on your application form when asked to do so.

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 27/04/2026, please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.

Communications will be electronic and/or by SMS/telephone therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed. If you wish to opt out of SMS messages, please email this address, including the vacancy reference and your candidate ID CFCD.RECRUITMENTINBOX@DWP.GOV.UK. As part of our commitment to improving the candidate experience, you may be contacted during the recruitment process to provide feedback.

Preparing for the Interview

The interview will take approximately 40 minutes and will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed at level 2. An example of a behavioural question would be “Tell me about a time when you have had to deal with a difficult customer.”

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

• WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or
• STAR - What was the ituation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.

Stage 4 – Offer

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, we may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.

The successful candidates will be notified of a start date following successful pre-employment and security checks, which is likely to be during September 2026.

Important information

Candidate pack

It is important that you take time to read the candidate pack which can be found at the bottom of this job advert. This provides further information about the role and working in DWP.

Location

Please see slide 2 in the candidate pack for list of possible locations. You should only apply for suitable posts where you can travel to and from your home office location daily within a reasonable time. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Hybrid working​

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office. If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Hybrid working will not commence until any training and consolidation period has been successfully completed.

Working pattern​

Part-time, part-year, term-time compressed hours and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful candidates with agreed alternative working patterns may be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation.

​​Hours of work ​

The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of: ​

• 7:45am and 8:00pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and​
• 8:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday.​

Managers will agree working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate. You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.

Learning and Development

DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification, such as an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time. You agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification; your failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of your employment contract.

If DWP decides that it is no longer a requirement for you to undertake and attain a work-based qualification, it will release you from this obligation. Any decision to release you from this obligation will not be a breach of contract by DWP.

Important

If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent) then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at the Childcare Choices Website.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that these vacancies are not currently eligible for new applications for Visa Sponsorship on the Skilled Worker route, for any candidates who do not currently have permission to be in the UK as a Skilled Worker where they were sponsored before 4 April 2024, even if relying on tradeable points (including the new entrant tradeable points option) as they are not included in the published Immigration Salary List. This information is offered as guidance only, and we recommend that applicants seek specialist advice on their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship (if applicable) when considering whether to apply for any role.

Vetting

Please note that the role that you are applying requires National Security Vetting (NSV) to the level – Security Check (SC). You can find more information at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . If you are successful in your application, you will need to attain SC clearance before you can take up post. This is mandatory and is in addition to completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).