A Bulgarian woman jailed for her role in a £54million benefit fraud is living freely in the UK and claiming benefits again, according to reports. Tsvetka Todorova, 54, was one of five Bulgarians who spent tens of millions of pounds on luxury cars and designer clothes after submitting fraudulent claims.
Prison and release
Todorova was imprisoned for three years in May 2024 but was released in late 2025 after serving half of her sentence. At a confiscation hearing in January, she was ordered to pay back £101,201.78, yet she has so far handed over only £18,228.14, The Sun reports.
She has since told reporters she has been living in the UK on benefits since December, thanks to her husband receiving over £1,000 a month in Universal Credit, a payment designed to help with living costs for those on low income or out of work.
Todorova's statements
Todorova said: "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."
More recently, she claimed that both she and her husband are "depressed". "I have high blood pressure because of the case," she said. "My husband also has a lot of back pain."
Fraud scheme and consequences
Todorova was part of an organised crime gang that operated three "benefit factories" in London, submitting thousands of false Universal Credit claims as part of the UK's largest-ever benefit fraud. She was personally found to have pocketed £263,514 from the illegal scheme.
The Bulgarian national is facing deportation and could also be sent back to jail for failing to meet the confiscation order. A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Enforcement of this matter is ongoing."
