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chowder66

(11,674 posts)
1. While sickening, fraud was rampant nationwide.
Sat Nov 29, 2025, 02:13 PM
Nov 29

WASHINGTON (AP) — Much of the theft was brazen, even simple.

Fraudsters used the Social Security numbers of dead people and federal prisoners to get unemployment checks. Cheaters collected those benefits in multiple states. And federal loan applicants weren’t cross-checked against a Treasury Department database that would have raised red flags about sketchy borrowers.

Criminals and gangs grabbed the money. But so did a U.S. soldier in Georgia, the pastors of a defunct church in Texas, a former state lawmaker in Missouri and a roofing contractor in Montana.

All of it led to the greatest grift in U.S. history, with thieves plundering billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid intended to combat the worst pandemic in a century and to stabilize an economy in free fall.

much more....
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-billions-in-covid-19-pandemic-relief-aid-was-stolen-or-wasted

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

While sickening, fraud was rampant nationwide. chowder66 Nov 29 #1
Grifting is a part of every culture and every period of history. nt albacore Nov 29 #5
In Michigan, a state contractor hired to process unemployment claims funneled million to associates in fake claims MichMan Tuesday #6
There are several things going on here. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 29 #2
I cannot accept snowybirdie Nov 29 #3
A Somali-American former investigator: why you're hearing about fraud in my community (July 2024) Celerity Nov 29 #4
59 people have already been convicted so far MichMan Wednesday #9
Sad story with a lot of angles. I hope it doesn't hurt Dems in Minnesota. LymphocyteLover Wednesday #7
Attorney representing some of the defendants stating there was little or no oversight MichMan Wednesday #8
This is why Trump said this money would not be tracked. travelingthrulife Wednesday #10
DURec leftstreet Wednesday #11
These were state programs with no oversight, not federal MichMan Wednesday #13
Ah leftstreet Wednesday #14
NYT with a pre-emptive strike on Gov Walz's presidential ambitions. Par for the course. 617Blue Wednesday #12
He was never going to be president with or without this story. BannonsLiver Wednesday #17
It happens all the time in Europe, too DFW Wednesday #15
+1. dalton99a Wednesday #18
This entire ForgedCrank Wednesday #16
Apparently there were quite a few state employees that said they expressed fraud concerns but were ignored. MichMan Wednesday #19
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