Waste, Fraud and Abuse
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Federal prosecutors charge 5 people in an ongoing investigation of 'ghost students' fraud
Alleged scammers used fake or stolen identities to enroll in classes online. From there, the accused scammers secure student-aid grants and loans before disappearing.
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Multiple Minnesota locations raided amid fraud investigations
Fraud investigations are ongoing throughout taxpayer-funded programs in Minnesota in a scandal that rocked the Walz administration.
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Treasury identifies $270 million in federal student aid programs it ties to possible fraud
Many of the schemes involve fraudulent enrollments — called "ghost student" schemes — in which criminals use stolen personal information, including names and Social Security numbers, to enroll fake students using the stolen identities.
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Illinois taxpayers foot $10M bill to forgive $1.4B in medical debt
Illinois taxpayers footed the bill to cancel the debt of about 694,000 residents.
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Feds gave nonprofit $23M despite accounting woes
(The Center Square)—The National Council of Urban Indian Health received $23.6 million in federal funds in four years even as an auditor flagged accounting problems in three of those years, an investigation by The Center Square found. The Washington, D.C.-based
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Massachusetts lets SNAP, other public benefits fraudsters keep 97 cents of every stolen $1: report
Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey has reportedly said she has declined to give SNAP recipient data to the Trump administration because of no assurances it will not be passed along to ICE.
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Three charged with stealing $20M in 'Free College Benefit Program'
Defendants accused of diverting Pell grants and other federal financial aid state funds through “fraudulent reimbursements and illegal incentive payments.”
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New York made $7.6 million in improper Medicaid payments to incarcerated people, audit reveals
In one example, an individual incorrectly remained enrolled in managed care for 23 months while incarcerated.
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Childcare providers conspired with parents to scam taxpayers, documents show
Among the documents obtained were investigations noting reports about providers accused of coordinating with parents to fraudulently obtain taxpayer subsidies, where the parents were part of the alleged scam.
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Medicare Part D paid $588M for over-the-counter drugs labeled as prescription-only
The money won't be recovered, because the payments complied with Medicare guidance in place at the time, officials say.
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Woman in MN Dem Senate candidate's viral hijab video faces investigation for fraud
In the video, Flanagan, who was wearing a hijab, defended the Somali community, saying it "is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota."
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Federal authorities charge three people with stealing $12 million in homeless aid dollars
Wednesday's arrest comes one day after 12 people were arrested and charged with stealing more than $10 million in federal childcare aid, as the Trump administration's crackdown on fraud and waste in government programs continues.
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Trump administration blocked or froze $177 billion in grants, analysis shows
The cuts impacted all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and most cuts were directed at health, nutrition, the environment and disaster relief programs, according to the analysis.