Stricter controls on Dutch student grant fraud

The Dutch senate has approved new penalty measures for students who commit grant fraud yesterday. Students who claim to be living away from home, but in reality still live with their parents, risk a severe penalty. ‘Suspected’ students also run a greater chance to be checked.

The new measure will take effect on January 1, 2012. As from then, the money wrongly claimed has to be paid back. In addition the fraudulent student will be severely punished with a 50 procent fine of the money wrongly claimed. If a student commits  fraud a second time he or she has to pay a 2000 euro fine and will lose his student grant.

In severe cases, basic grant provider DUO will report the student to the police. It means that the fraudulent student risks a criminal record. Also those who deliberately make the fraud possible,  for example by permitting a student to use their address, can be fined.