THOUSANDS of British expats are suspected of committing benefit fraud abroad in the past year, costing Britain more than £80m – with Spain, Pakistan and Turkey the top destinations.

A new league table reveals 7,296 British nationals were accused of fiddling their benefits in the past year in 157 countries and regions worldwide. 

The most common cases involved bogus claims for pension credit, which was around £52million, housing benefit – £19million – and income support, which was more than £10million.

Top destinations for fraud abroad were Spain, Pakistan and Turkey where more than 1,500 cases were reported in 2013-14.

The figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show 628 cases of benefit fraud reported in Pakistan, 298 in Turkey, 282 in India and 246 in the USA. 

But the list of suspected fraudsters included such far-flung destinations as Madagascar, which had two cases, Oman, Jamaica, Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean and even the Vatican – where one person who was claiming a disability benefit was found on an Italian walking holiday.

Another high-claimer was Karen Trant, who claimed to be crippled by a fear of open spaces which left her housebound. But she was snared by investigators are they found photographs of her enjoying beach holidays in Goa.

Welfare minister Mark Harper said: ‘We’re clamping down on fraud – both at home and abroad – so money goes to those who need it most, rather than lining the pockets of criminals sunning themselves overseas.