Cheaters Caught

by Jack

The Department of Justice says it has charged dozens of people who allegedly tried to steal more than $175 million in federal aid meant to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press conference on Thursday, the Justice Department announced it has now charged 57 people with Paycheck Protection Program-related fraud since May — in addition to other cases brought by U.S. attorneys around the country.

Congress approved about $670 billion for the program, which allowed small businesses to seek forgivable loans in order to avoid layoffs and stay afloat during the pandemic. The Small Business Administration made 5.2 million loans, worth more than $525 billion through the program.

This just in….

DENVER (AP) – More than 75% of Colorado claims for a federal unemployment assistance program for self-employed workers and independent contractors since July 18 were determined to be fraudulent.

State labor department officials say the problem has increased since mid-July, with false claims coming from within and without the state.

The Denver Post reports that officials estimated they’ve received as many as 50,000 fraudulent claims in the two weeks since Aug. 22.

Congress authorized the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program earlier this year to help people not normally eligible to receive unemployment benefits, including independent contractors. Other states face widespread fraud concerns.