Source: Fox News
Summary
The Department of Labor Inspector General is warning of a growing trend of online scammers, known as “fraudfluencers,” who boast about exploiting government programs and facilitate fraud on behalf of others. These scammers take a cut of the fraudulently obtained benefits. In one case, a California Employment Development Department contract employee, Britteny Egland, used social media to invite others to participate in her schemes, offering to help them take advantage of taxpayer-funded programs they weren’t qualified for. She stole $2.8 million from government coffers and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. Investigators are seeing an increase in fraudsters using social media to normalize theft and advertise their methods.
Our Reading
Once again, the discussion returns to a familiar question.
Fraudsters are using social media to boast about their crimes and recruit others to join them. They leave a digital footprint that investigators can follow. The Department of Labor Inspector General is warning of a growing trend of “fraudfluencers.” These scammers take a cut of the fraudulently obtained benefits. The law eventually catches up with them, but not before they steal millions from government programs.
The process has entered a familiar phase, where investigators must navigate the online world to track down these scammers.
As expected, the matter has reached another stage, where the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is working to crack down on taxpayer funds being paid out to fraudsters.
The “fraudfluencers” are making mistakes in high definition, leaving a trail of digital evidence for investigators to follow.
What’s notable is how these scammers are turning theft into entertainment and betrayal into a lifestyle, normalizing it for their online followers.
It’s a performance of sorts, where they boast about their crimes and recruit others to join them, all while leaving a digital footprint that investigators can follow.
Author: Evan Null
