Fraud Warning Label

If there was a warning label for fraud, it might read: Warning! Do not attempt to perform any fraudulent act unless you want to spend the foreseeable future in prison. (I wonder if that would deter criminal activity and make potential fraudsters think twice. Probably not, but it’s worth a try.) An article published in The Buffalo News states that one local woman pushed her luck while committing unemployment insurance fraud. (Words to the unwise fraudster– don’t file for unemployment fraud if you have two jobs.)

The former federal government contact representative also had a job as a health care aide at a local nursing and rehabilitation facility. Despite the fact that she already had two jobs, the woman filed for unemployment benefits and received $11,455 for her phony claims. (I’ll just fill out the application and see what I can get. They’ll never check.)

The 33-year-old got away with the scam for nearly two years before being caught. The story states that she filed multiple unemployment insurance benefit claims worth $9,530 while employed by the government and $1,925 from her job at the local nursing home. She faces up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000.

It never ceases to amaze me how bold and selfish fraudsters can be. While holding down two jobs, this criminal managed to justify her actions to steal money from people who deserve the benefit. The article doesn’t mention how she spent the extra income while other deserving beneficiaries were denied financial assistance during a tough economic season. (Here are some stern words for the unwise fraudster: “did you really think you could get away with scamming the government?”)

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