The number of successful prosecutions of Dundee benefit fraudsters has more than doubled.
Fraud investigators have secured dozens of convictions in the last year, clawing back more than half a million pounds from benefit scammers in the city.
There were 35 convictions in the last year by the council’s fraud team and the Department for Work and Pensions, up from 17 in 2011-12.
But the amount of money overpaid has dropped to £660,959 from £945,985 in the previous year.
There were also fewer investigations, down to 308 from 352.
Marjory Stewart, the council’s director of corporate services, said the increased number of convictions was down to a change in approach.
She said: “A change in strategy by Dundee City Council and the DWP in pursuing allegations that are more likely to result in prosecution action being taken against fraud offenders has resulted in an increase in the number of reports sent to the procurator fiscal.
“The number of guilty verdicts has increased significantly in comparison to previous years.
“This can be attributed to a number of factors, such as the higher quality of investigative work and standard of prosecution cases reported to the procurator fiscal and the fiscal’s willingness to take action against benefit fraudsters.
“The volume of allegations that the council has received has reduced in comparison to the previous year.
“One of the main factors that has contributed to this shortfall is the decrease in referrals received from the DWP as they pursue the more serious levels of fraud at the expense of lesser value frauds.”