The Cost of Pandemic Aid

Fraud in pandemic unemployment assistance programs stands at $76 billion according to congressional testimony from the Labour Department Inspector General Larry Turner. Organized crime groups got involved, buying personal information on Americans and then using their associates to collect benefits in multiple states across the country. Healthcare providers were also impersonated by criminals who stole funds directed towards those who were treating Covid patients. The US government has already charged more than 2,230 defendants with pandemic-related fraud crimes.