States Discover Massive Fraud in Unemployment Claims

 

Countless Americans have found themselves suddenly jobless and counting on unemployment insurance payments, but massive fraud has been revealed across multiple states, totaling millions, if not billions of taxpayer dollars. Gov. Hogan of Maryland noticed a massive influx of “out-of-state” claims during the pandemic. In an effort to get relief to the citizens of his state, claims were being processed and expedited at a rapid rate, but there was clearly something wrong. They discovered $501 million dollars in fraudulent claims along with growing evidence that the sophisticated efforts involved stealing the personal information of citizens and could possibly be national and even international in origin.

Now twelve other states are also investigating, and the number is growing.

According to the governor, the scheme was detected over the July Fourth weekend when the Maryland Department of Labor noticed a spike in out-of-state Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims. The agency immediately froze all out-of-state accounts and ultimately blocked payment to more than 47,500 bogus claims totaling $501 million.

The PUA Program, in particular, allows individuals to self-certify that they are unemployed due to the coronavirus, eliminating the regular check-and-balance that exists under the regular state UA program, increasing the potential for fraud,” Maryland Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson said.

This pandemic continues to cause so much suffering, and while states may have tried to bypass regular checks and balances to help their citizens, it has opened a window to insidious vultures with no consciences, to suck funds from states and everyday Americans who are trying to get by another day. While Attorney General William Barr continues to sound the alarm on the recent hacking activities by our adversaries, and he can add this one to the list.

I hope the governors of states that are allowing thugs to take over police precincts and bash and burn businesses, realize this is going on behind the scenes too by real thugs, and maybe the distractions are linked to fund this racial unrest and socialistic change? Somebody is getting a lot of money.

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There are 11 comments.

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  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Why am I not surprised? I hope they stomp on these efforts and that there are some convictions, too. Thanks, FSC

    • #1
  2. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    Highly predictable when the stealing is made so easy.

    Many don’t see stealing from the Feds as stealing, but rather, getting one over on the Man.

    • #2
  3. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):
    Many don’t see stealing from the Feds their neighbors as stealing, but rather, getting one over on the Man.

    FIFY

     

    Studies have shown that people will take things, if they believe that others are taking it too.  What’s accepted becomes what’s expected.

    • #3
  4. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Front Seat Cat: insidious vultures with no consciences, to suck funds from states and everyday Americans who are trying to get by another day.

    In other words, any of a million reasonably competent bandits from anywhere in the world with computer skills enough to constantly raid every single government program we set up. If they can make enough on any single one to bribe the regulators, then they’ve hit gold with that one, and they will drain it for as long as it lasts.

    Our great experiment at self-government requires a stern policing of the books and inviolable safeguards against corruption in order to work.  We’ve never figured that part out.  How else do you think we can spend Trillions of dollars every year?

    People roll their eyes about government waste and corruption – it’s all slap-on-the-wrist stuff. But I always thought that the violation of your sworn trust to handle the publics’ money should be one of the most egregious and disgraceful crimes.  And the tracking down and capture of anyone trying to rip us off one of the most noble achievements in government service.

     

    • #4
  5. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):
    Many don’t see stealing from the Feds their neighbors as stealing, but rather, getting one over on the Man.

    FIFY

    Studies have shown that people will take things, if they believe that others are taking it too. What’s accepted becomes what’s expected.

    Agreed, but the perception is the money is being stolen from Uncle Sam’s bottomless pot of cash.

    • #5
  6. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):
    Many don’t see stealing from the Feds their neighbors as stealing, but rather, getting one over on the Man.

    FIFY

    Studies have shown that people will take things, if they believe that others are taking it too. What’s accepted becomes what’s expected.

    Agreed, but the perception is the money is being stolen from Uncle Sam’s bottomless pot of cash.

    Except there is no Uncle Sam – it’s you and I going to work everyday and paying our taxes. I am very bothered by this story. My sister who works for the government gets little to no raises, and they dole out benefits left and right to many could work but will not.  Now with this virus, states are strapped, businesses are suffering, which means people are suffering. We have yet to see even the tip of this iceberg but its coming.

    • #6
  7. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Front Seat Cat: revealed massive fraud across multiple states

    Who’d a thunk?  A guy at work got a check for his deceased father.

    Mail in voting will be a disaster.

    • #7
  8. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Front Seat Cat: revealed massive fraud across multiple states

    Who’d a thunk? A guy at work got a check for his deceased father.

    Mail in voting will be a disaster.

    I’m sure this is one reason why Trump wanted the Feds to give out the supplemental covid checks.

    • #8
  9. The Cynthonian Inactive
    The Cynthonian
    @TheCynthonian

    Washington state is another that was hard-hit by an organized ring of international scammers.   So far the governor hasn’t bothered to do a thing about it.  I doubt our state AG has either, as he considers his primary job to be suing the Trump Administration on any isssue where he disagrees with it.  Protecting the citizens and taxpayers of the state from this, and other, crimes is way down on his priority list.

    • #9
  10. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    The Cynthonian (View Comment):

    Washington state is another that was hard-hit by an organized ring of international scammers. So far the governor hasn’t bothered to do a thing about it. I doubt our state AG has either, as he considers his primary job to be suing the Trump Administration on any isssue where he disagrees with it. Protecting the citizens and taxpayers of the state from this, and other, crimes is way down on his priority list.

    I can’t believe this is tolerated by the citizens of such a beautiful state.  Can’t they vote the leadership out?

    • #10
  11. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):
    I can’t believe this is tolerated by the citizens of such a beautiful state. Can’t they vote the leadership out?

    It’s Washington.

    • #11
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