Tax fraud begins in January with phony IRS messages aimed at Americans
Tax season doesn’t really start in April; for scammers, it begins as soon as January rolls around. While you might be waiting for your W-2 or 1099, cybercriminals waste no time bombarding people with fake IRS messages, alerts about “refund problems,” and account verification scams. These scams often look surprisingly legitimate, which is, unfortunately, by […]
Wells Fargo fraud warning did not prevent $950 charge on New Smyrna Beach couple’s account.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida A couple from New Smyrna Beach received a fraud alert from their bank about suspicious account activity. Despite disputing the charge, a sum of $950 was withdrawn from their account. Austin and Jessica Reeves are trying to wrap their heads around the situation. “I think the bank should have protected me […]
Authorities start inquiry into unemployment fraud in California
California officials who overlooked massive unemployment fraud during the pandemic are now facing scrutiny from federal authorities. The U.S. Department of Labor plans to notify state employment agencies about upcoming “strike teams” that will be dispatched to address issues of theft and misuse, similar to operations currently happening in Minnesota. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized […]
Authorities Caution That Almost $1 Billion in Unused COVID Benefits May Be Vulnerable to Fraud
A government watchdog has flagged nearly $1 billion in unemployment benefits from the pandemic that may fall prey to fraud. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General highlighted issues with prepaid debit card benefits and the state’s Office of Unclaimed Property, as reported by a recent article. The Inspector General, Anthony P. D’Esposito, […]
Government loses about $1 trillion each year due to fraud
Federal Fraud Losses Estimated at $1 Trillion Annually Heywood Talcove, who is the CEO of LexisNexis Special Services and LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government, recently testified in front of Congress about the staggering losses related to fraud within the federal government. He stated that these losses amount to roughly $1 trillion each year. This figure is […]
Minnesota Democrats call for reparations from ICE in response to $18B Somali fraud
Democrats in Minnesota Seek Federal Compensation Top Democratic leaders in Minnesota are calling on the federal government to “pay for the damage they have done” following weeks of increased immigration enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Their plea comes in light of fraudsters allegedly misappropriating $18 billion from state social welfare programs. Governor […]
Oz looks into Medicaid fraud in Minnesota, projecting $100 billion nationwide.
CMS Administrator Highlights Fraud Concerns in Medicaid Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), shared some alarming insights about Medicaid fraud during an appearance on the Katie Miller podcast. He characterized the issue in Minnesota specifically as a “weaponization of fraud” and estimated that nationwide, Medicaid fraud amounts […]
Haitian Migrants Charged with Fraud, Forced Labor, and Patient Neglect in Oregon
Charges Against Haitian Immigrants for Forced Labor Two Haitian immigrants based in Tigard, Oregon, are facing serious allegations of forcing their relatives to work in harsh conditions at an adult daycare center. The US Department of Justice has announced that Marie Gertrude Jean Valmont, 67, and her daughter Yolandita Marie André, 31, have been indicted […]
Democrat Auditor in Massachusetts Files Lawsuit Against Legislature over $12 Million in Suspected Fraud
Massachusetts Comptroller Targets Fraud Allegations Massachusetts Comptroller Diana DiZoglio is calling out legislative leaders and even members of her own party regarding accusations of fraud. Auditors are set to bring a complaint to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court after uncovering approximately $12 million in suspected fraud within the welfare program, as reported recently. This audit […]
Recovering from physical identity theft is more challenging than resolving credit card fraud.
Identity Theft Incident Involving Rental Car Fraud A recent case highlights the serious ramifications of identity theft after a 57-year-old woman from Los Alamitos, California, received a voicemail from a Hertz rental car facility in Miami. They inquired about the return of a Mercedes-Benz she had never rented. In a troubling twist, a thief had […]