With the surge in unemployment compensation fraud cases in Pennsylvania, Indiana County’s state representatives are joining a group of fellow house members to request an investigation.
The letter signed by both Jim Struzzi and Brian Smith, along with 14 other state representatives was sent Tuesday to PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Labor and Industry Secretary Jennifer Barrier, Auditor General Tim DeFoor, Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Howell and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity.
Barrier said that these fraudulent claims stem from data breaches outside of L&I’s control, and calls them “frustrating” in a statement. She also reminds residents to stay vigilant of fraud and to report any and all cases to law enforcement.
It asks the agencies to “take prompt and decisive action in stemming the overwhelming wave of fraudulent UC claims that have adversely affected our constituents, both employees and employers, in recent days.” Indiana County has seen its share of these cases through local and state police, where people’s identities are stolen and fraudulent claims are made.
The letter states that everything should be done to restore integrity to the UC system, and the representatives called it “unacceptable that so much time and effort is being spent to process fraudulent claims at the expense of innocent victims who have not filed claims, and those who are waiting to have legitimate claims processed.”
They would like to see a multi-agency task force put together to hunt down those responsible for the fraud, implement anti-fraud technology and procedures, conduct an audit of UC processes during the pandemic and get an accounting as to how much tax money is being spent approving fake claims and being stolen by criminals from the UC fund.
Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Director Major Jeremy Richard reminds residents that it can happen to anyone. He adds that “if you’ve been a victim, don’t be embarrassed. Instead, report it to law enforcement.”
Below is the full statement from the Pennsylvania State Police:












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