Scammers Brag Online, Prompting Government Concern
There’s a growing trend among self-proclaimed “fraudsters” who openly share their acts of deception online, and this has raised alarms for advocates of good governance.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who heads the DOGE caucus, is calling on the Trump administration to intensify efforts against these individuals and analyze their methods.
“I’ve labeled these individuals as ‘scammers’ because they infuse their online content with blatant ‘scams’, creating guides to exploit government initiatives and siphon taxpayer dollars,” Ernst told a media outlet.
“If they seek notoriety, we’re more than willing to fulfill that by sharing their posts with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). It’s important to evaluate how many people are engaging in these schemes and, perhaps, consider making their next profile picture an arrest photo,” she added.
Several particularly audacious scammers have caught Ernst’s attention.
Rapper with a Fraudulent Flair
Memphis rapper Nuke Bizzle (Fauntrell Antonio Baines) gained notoriety with a 2020 YouTube video that boasted over 500,000 views at the time, where he rapped about defrauding others out of significant sums.
He declared, “And then I woke up and it was 300 Gs. I stole 60,000 from the SBA. It’s time to hit the ball like the NBA.” He commented on counting his money like an accountant.
The title of his track referred to the “Employment Development Department.” In October of that same year, he was indicted for using another person’s identity to fraudulently acquire $1.2 million in unemployment benefits.
Baines eventually pleaded guilty to mail fraud and unrelated charges and received a sentence of six years and five months in 2022.
Encouraging Border Crossings
Venezuelan TikTok personality Leonel Moreno openly celebrated his illegal entry into the U.S., attributing his success to “Papa Biden” and urging others to follow suit.
“I didn’t cross the Rio Grande for work,” he stated, while displaying a bundle of cash. However, he was later deported by the Trump administration.
Podcasting on Fraud
In another case, Jonathan Dupiton, a Georgia resident, was sent back to prison in April after federal authorities charged him with attempted theft of profits using stolen identities.
His podcast promotion claimed, “Fraud is dope.” Previously, he had received over $3 million in unemployment benefits through deceit. Dupiton was sentenced to an additional seven years in prison following a guilty plea.
Fraudster Lifestyle
Senator Ernst also pointed to Daniel Miller from Miami, who garnered attention for admitting, “I consider myself more of a fraud than anything else.” He defrauded the Small Business Administration of over $1 million and showcased his wealth through luxury possessions and travel.
Miller revealed how easy it was to connect with other scammers online, sharing tips and information. In September 2023, a federal judge sentenced him to five years after he pleaded guilty.
Fraud on Social Media
The creators behind the YouTube channel “Eva and Her Minions” expressed the emotional toll they faced after being arrested for stealing around $94,000 in Social Security benefits.
Florida residents Billy Altidore and Evanie (Eva) Ruiz flaunted their extravagant lifestyles on the platform. They reflected on their experiences in a video after their arrest, with Altidore receiving a two-year prison sentence and Ruiz one year and one day for theft and identity fraud.
Social Media Advice on Dishonesty
Koya Unek from Louisiana boasted about her deception on TikTok, where she claimed to feign homelessness to collect $35,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“People say, ‘Girl, how do you get food stamps? I wish I could get food stamps.’ Bitch, you better start lying,” she advised her viewers.
Unfortunately for Unek, her online antics caught the attention of law enforcement. She was arrested last year on charges of fraud, and that case is still ongoing.
