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A26 U.S. NEWS
Monday 8 June 2020
Criminals stealing unemployment benefits as claims surge

By SARAH SKIDMORE SELL the issue and getting prop-
AP Personal Finance Writer er payment means going
Criminals are seizing on a through the state agency
surge in job losses to steal that processes unemploy-
unemployment benefits ment benefit claims, which
from Americans nation- is potentially already over-
wide. This complicates an whelmed.
already tough situation The U.S. Secret Service is-
for millions of financially sued a memo last month
strapped Americans and that suggested a well-
overwhelmed state unem- organized Nigerian fraud
ployment offices. ring was targeting state
While there's no exact mea- unemployment systems,
sure of how many fraudu- according to the New York
lent claims have been Times, which got a copy of
made, states from Wash- the document. But agents
ington to Maine say they've were still working to pinpoint
seen an increase and nu- who was involved and from
merous federal agencies where. The memo said
are working to fight it. that Washington was the
"About 10% of (unemploy- hardest-hit state but there
ment insurance) payments was evidence of attacks in
are improper under the North Carolina, Massachu-
best of times, and we are In this Wednesday, May 13, 2020 file photo, a sign announces a store closing in Niles, Ill. setts, Rhode Island, Oklaho-
in the worst of times," Scott Associated Press ma, Wyoming and Florida.
Dahl, the inspector general Velasquez, president and Additionally, state unem- nals using stolen data to The California cybersecu-
for the U.S. Labor Depart- CEO of the nonprofit Iden- ployment agencies have make claims using some- rity firm Agari estimated last
ment, told the House Sub- tity Theft Resource Center, been overwhelmed by one else's identity. The in- week that at least 11 states
committee on Government which has seen a sharp claims and are working to formation has often been have been targeted.
Operations. Dahl estimated jump in calls for help with get payments to those in gleaned from prior data On Thursday, officials in
that at least $26 billion in unemployment fraud. need as fast as possible. breaches or direct attacks Washington said the state
benefits could be wasted, Since mid-March, 42.7 mil- In some cases, security on state systems. has recovered $333 million
with the bulk of that going lion people have applied experts say the new pro- In many cases, victims out an estimated $550 mil-
to fraudsters. for unemployment ben- cesses, added workload don't know they have been lion to $650 million paid out
This forces unemployed efits, though some have and outdated systems may affected until they apply fraudulently.
workers, already reeling been rehired as states al- have made it easier for for benefits and find out Those with jobs are also tar-
from the loss of a job, to low businesses to reopen. criminals to act. someone has beat them to gets of the fraudsters. Blake
fight for the benefits they On Thursday, the federal "This is El Dorado for them the punch. Some even find Victor Kent said that last
need and are entitled to. government said 21.5 mil- and it's pure hell for victims," their benefit payments halt- week he got a letter from
"We are deeply concerned lion people are receiving said Adam Levin, founder ed when a criminal usurps the Massachusetts Depart-
about the well-being of jobless aid. That creates of data security firm Cyber- their benefits. ment of Unemployment
these people and when added opportunity for Scout. Victims should report a sus- Assistance informing him
they will get this resolved criminals. An extra $600 a Security experts say the pected fraud to the state, that they had commenced
and get the money they week in benefits makes it bulk of the fraud appears their employer and file a payments for his unemploy-
need to live on," said Eva more lucrative. to be committed by crimi- police report. But resolving ment claim.q

Deputy killed in California ambush by Air Force sergeant

By MARTHA MENDOZA fornia Highway Patrol was 60th Security Forces Squad-
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — shot in his hand, Hart said. ron. Carrillo’s wife Monika
A Northern California sher- Gutzwiller “was a beloved Leigh Scott Carrillo, who
iff’s deputy was killed and figure here at the sheriff’s was also in the Air Force,
two law enforcement of- office,” the sheriff said. was found dead in an off-
ficers wounded Saturday “Damon showed up today base hotel in May 2018
when they were ambushed to do his job, to keep this while she was stationed in
with gunfire and explosives community safe, and his South Carolina. She was 30.
while pursuing a suspect, life was taken needlessly,” Her death was investigated
authorities said. a visibly shaken Hart said. by the Sumter County Sher-
The U.S. Air Force con- The suspect, Steven Car- iff’s Office, in coordination
firmed Sunday that the sus- rillo, 32, was shot during with the Air Force Office of
pect was an active duty his arrest and was being Special Investigations, and
sergeant stationed at Travis treated at the hospital for ruled a suicide, according
Air Force Base. non-life-threatening inju- to the Air Force.
Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, ries, Hart said. The Sheriff’s On Saturday in Santa Cruz
was shot and killed in Ben Department and the FBI County, deputies respond-
Lomond, an unincorporat- are investigating. A Travis ed to a 911 call around 1:30
ed area near Santa Cruz, Air Force Base spokesman p.m. about a suspicious
Santa Cruz County Sher- confirmed Sunday that van. The caller said there
This photo provided by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office iff Jim Hart said. A second Carrillo had arrived at Travis were guns and bomb-
shows Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller. deputy was injured, and a Air Force Base in June 2018 making devices inside, Hart
Associated Press third officer from the Cali- and was a member of the said.q