3 women charged with illegally obtaining over $1.2M in unemployment benefits in names of inmates
Three Inland Empire women were arrested and charged this week for illegally obtaining COVID-related unemployment benefits in names of prison inmates and scamming the California Employment Development Department out of a combined $1.2 million, federal prosecutors allege.
Incarcerated California woman, accomplice accused of stealing more than $100K in EDD benefits
Officials say the state has paid at least $11 billion in benefits to people whose identities it has been unable to verify, which they say is likely fraud. Of that, $810 million was tied to ineligible prisoners.
California auditor says EDD likely has paid out $10.4B in fraudulent claims so far
California State Auditor Elaine Howle said the agency was slow to react to warnings of an increase in fraudulent claims, saying this inaction cost the state billions as criminals exposed weaknesses in the system.
More than 800K California EDD claims paid out more than 21 days after filing: auditor
Auditor Elaine Howle told the governor that as a result, more than 800,000 people waited longer than 21 days—EDD's measure of how quickly it should process a claim—to receive their first benefit payments.
Criminal rings loot billions in California jobless funds
Criminal rings stole over $11 billion in unemployment benefits from California last year and nearly $20 billion more is considered suspicious.
California sees suspicious surge in unemployment claims
California is reporting a surge in coronavirus unemployment claims last week for independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed — the category of benefits blamed for much of the state’s fraudulent payments.
California may have paid out-of-state inmates job benefits
More than $40 million in California funding intended to help people left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic probably went to inmates in out-of-state jails and prisons, officials said.
EDD fraud, theft on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic
As more Americans became unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, EDD fraud and theft skyrocketed.
Pasadena man accused of buying Maserati with stolen CARES Act funds faces federal charges
An arraignment was scheduled Friday for a Pasadena man who faces federal charges after he allegedly used stolen identities to steal unemployment insurance benefits and then used the funds to purchase a Maserati SUV.
IRS warns of new COVID-related scam
The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry on Wednesday warned of a new text scam created by thieves that attempts to trick people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.
27 arrested for alleged unemployment benefits fraud in Torrance since Sept. 10
More than two dozen people have been arrested since Sept. 10 in Torrance for alleged unemployment benefits fraud and identity theft, police reported Wednesday.
Concerns over unemployment fraud prompts action in California
At least 350,000 debit cards filled with money for unemployment benefits in California have been frozen because of suspected fraud, state officials said, revealing how prevalent the problem has become now that the state has paid more than $105 billion in benefits since March.
Woman accused of stealing several identities to fraudulently obtain EDD unemployment benefits
A woman was arrested at a Riverside courthouse last week for allegedly stealing several identities to fraudulently obtain EDD unemployment benefits, authorities said Monday.
'EDD' rapper faces federal charges for unemployment insurance fraud
An up and coming rapper who boasted in a YouTube music video for his song "EDD", which is about getting rich from committing unemployment benefits fraud was arrested Friday in Los Angeles on federal charges of carrying out that very scheme
Homeless Orange County family living in bus still waiting to get EDD checks
Many of the stories you see on FOX 11 News and Good Day LA are the result of people reaching out to us via our social media channels. They are all worthy stories, but this one was particularly touching - at least to us.
California to halt unemployment claims for 2 weeks
Officials say California will not accept new unemployment claims for the next two weeks as the state works to prevent fraud and reduce a backlog as more than 2 million people are out of work statewide during the coronavirus pandemic.
EDD scams on the rise, dozens arrested in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills...famous stores, fancy cars, and these days it's ground zero for scammers ripping off other peoples' unemployment benefits to buy expensive things for themselves.
44 arrested, 129 EDD credit cards seized as Beverly Hills police crack down on fraud
The Beverly Hills police are cracking down on fraud and identity theft.
California legislators urge for emergency audit of EDD
In a very unusual move California legislators, who are off session till January, have come together to call for an emergency audit of the California Employment Development Department (EDD). FOX 11’s Christina Gonzalez has been following up on the complaints; many coming from FOX 11 viewers who are helping us share their stories.
Claims of fraud multiply at California EDD
FOX 11 brought you a story on Tuesday about apparent fraud involving the Employment Development Department and that got the attention of some of our viewers.