Asylum seekers owe taxpayers $10million in welfare payments they were given but are not entitled to.

About 6,500 asylum seekers owe the public purse the huge sum of money, including one benefits cheat who has been ordered to pay back $70,000.

A total of 23 refugees owe taxpayers more than $10,000, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection told The Advertiser.

Asylum seekers owe taxpayers $10million in welfare payments they were given but are not entitled to (file picture)

It has also emerged that 7,300 people are no longer being paid a handout meant for aspiring migrants after they were caught lying to get more welfare.

The department insists that people who are wrongly given benefits are required to repay the money.

Department first assistant secretary Elizabeth Hampton said: 'It’s recognised that individuals might send small amounts of money to family members offshore while in receipt of payment.

Asylum seekers on Manus Island: New figures show more than 23 owe more than $10,000

'Were they to send significant amounts of money offshore, that might suggest that they have an alternative form of support that we are not aware of.'