How To Report Welfare Fraud

Become a responsible citizen by learning how to report welfare fraud. It is estimated that in the U.S. over $300 billion dollars a year is lost to welfare fraud, and half of that is lost to organized crime. Some welfare fraud is the result of government employees stealing from within the system.

Most of the worst cases involved people using several identities across multiple locations, and involved hundreds of thousands of dollars. In one Minnesota case, a woman had received medical assistance for seven years. Investigators found that the family lived in a $550,000 home, had four Mercedes, and her high school aged child drove a Hummer.

The most common forms of welfare fraud are

• Absent Parent in the Home
• Unreported Income
• Ineligible child(ren)
• Child(ren) not living in the home
• Fraudulent disabilities

1. Find the appropriate reporting agency. Welfare is reported at the county level in most states. Your state government site should have links to make it simple.
2. Find out how to properly report the fraud. Some states have forms to fill out online, and all have phone numbers or fraud hotlines that you can call to contact them.
3. Give as much information as possible, while still protecting your privacy and safety. Making an anonymous call does not always protect you. Don't give them information that could only be traced back to you, such as conversations you've had with the person you are reporting. Investigators can't reveal your name, but if they reveal information that could only have been supplied by you, you may be in danger of retribution. Give general information that can be easily confirmed without exposing you as the reporter.
4. Check back to find out the status of the case. Most investigators will give you  a case number and a number to call to check back on the status

References:

Reporting Welfare Fraud in California

Welfare Fraud Rises in Budget Debate