Laughing at taxpayers – The Bulgarian fraudster who stole more than £54m returns to claim Universal Credit with her 'depressed' husband after early jail release
From the pages of a Daily Mail investigation, a Bulgarian woman who helped orchestrate Britain's biggest ever benefits fraud has returned to her London home and signed on to Universal Credit alongside her husband, days after being freed from prison. She claims the court case left her 'depressed' while vowing to fight deportation.
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The £54 million fraud and a three-year sentence
Her gang raked in more than £54million from Britain's biggest ever benefit fraud. They 'systematically plundered' the UK's welfare system over a four-and-a-half-year period by making thousands of false Universal Credit claims. The group hijacked 6,000 identities to make claims for Universal Credit and even used the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of the five-year scam. Todorova was jailed for three years in May 2024 for her role in the conspiracy. The 54-year-old has returned to her London home and signed on to Universal Credit alongside her husband, who she says receives £1,300 a month.
Universal Credit claims and family life
Speaking from a rented flat in Erith, Todorova vowed to fight efforts to deport her back to Bulgaria and boasted about her taxpayer-funded lifestyle. She told the Daily Mail: 'I do not want to leave Britain. My family is here. I love it here, it is good and has helped me.' 'I've been back on benefits since December 30. It'll be about £200 a month. I don't have a right to work. My husband gets over £1,000 for Universal Credit - I think it's £1,300 - and he gets more as well.' After being informed by the Daily Mail, the Department of Work and Pensions said it was 'reviewing' the decision to award Todorova the money.
The gang, deportation, and ongoing legal actions
One of her fellow gang members is also said to be enjoying a relaxed lifestyle after being released from prison, with neighbours describing how she spends all her time smoking and walking around in a dressing gown. Todorova - who described her time in prison as 'like a vacation' and boasted of having her hair done and a manicure - claims to now be 'depressed' and ill. The group was only uncovered after a Bulgarian police officer notified UK officials about a trend of criminals in the city of Sliven who had come into large sums of cash. They set up three 'benefit factories' across London, churning out bogus tenancy agreements, counterfeit pay slips and forged letters from landlords, employers, and GPs to trick the Department for Work and Pensions. Nikolova is also seen standing behind the counter of Antonia's Foods in Wood Green, pouting at the camera alongside an unknown man. Gang member Gyunesh Ali is the only member of the conspiracy who is still in prison. He had to be extradited from Bulgaria. Officials are now said to have recouped about £1million from the gang but are trying for £1million more - just a fraction of the total they originally stole. Prosecutor Gareth Munday told a hearing that the sums being sought were what officials could 'realistically trace', with one of the gang admitting she had moved 'money in cash overseas'. 'This was a disgraceful crime against the British public, and we are taking rigorous action to recover the stolen funds. We are clear - if those involved in this case do not pay back these funds within the required time they could be sent back to prison and then deported. In the case of Ms Todorova, we are currently reviewing the decision to award her Universal Credit.' A Government spokesman said: 'This was a disgraceful crime against the British public, and we are taking rigorous action to recover the stolen funds. We are clear - if those involved in this case do not pay back these funds within the required time they could be sent back to prison and then deported. In the case of Ms Todorova, we are currently reviewing the decision to award her Universal Credit.'
