A FRAUD detection scheme covering 81 public bodies in Scotland has found savings and overpayments of almost £20 million.
An Audit Scotland report revealed that the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) in Scotland achieved £19.8 mil-lion worth of recoveries, savings and overpayments in 2010/11.
Councils, police forces, fire and rescue services, health boards, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency and the Student Award Agency for Scotland were among 81 organisations which took part.
The scheme compared data on deceased persons, public-sector employees and pensioners, benefit applicants, council tax records, failed asylum-seekers, disabled parking permits, expired visas, personal alcohol licences and students to identify inconsistencies that might suggest fraud or error.
Cases were then followed up to stop overpayments and to recover money where possible.
The largest individual case of fraud, involving benefit claims, is estimated at almost £600,000 and is one of 145 cases to be reported to the procurator-fiscal.
Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland, said: "Most people are honest and behave with integrity.
"Some do make genuine mistakes but there is a small number who set out to cheat the public sector.
"Our successful National Fraud Initiative should be a deterrent. This is the fourth time the initiative has been carried out in Scotland."
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