California Department of Social Services presents…….

California Department of Social Services presents…….
How to Report Welfare Fraud Report Welfare Fraud State of California Fraud Hotline: 1-800-344-TIPS (8477) REV 4/25/14

What is Welfare Fraud? Welfare benefits are intended to help people who have come upon hard times get back on their feet. REV 4/25/14

The most common types of welfare fraud REV 4/25/14

Examples of EBT Trafficking REV 4/25/14

Examples of Fraud in California In one county a husband and wife applied for cash-aid on their alleged low income. The couple failed to report that the wife owned a liquor store and recycling business. The wife also drove a $76,000 luxury car and had almost $150,000 hidden in her dresser drawer. In another county, a woman used a fake Social Security number to obtain almost $2,000 in cash aid and CalFresh. Retail stores exchanging cash for CalFresh EBT Cards. REV 4/25/14

Reporting Welfare Fraud Why should we report Welfare Fraud activities? REV 4/25/14

What information is needed to report fraud? REV 4/25/14

What Information Will I be Asked When I Make a Report? Information that will be helpful with the investigation includes: REV 4/25/14

Investigations are conducted by the county Welfare Fraud Hotline Counties are mandated to conduct investigations of alleged criminal conduct within the CalWORKs and CalFresh (Food Stamp) programs. To report welfare fraud contact the appropriate County Agencydirectly. Or If you need assistance in determining which county to call contact the Welfare Fraud Hotline at: 1-800-344-8477 or by e-mail at: FraudHotline@dss.ca.gov Fraud REV 4/25/14

Additional Fraud Reporting Resources To report suspected Social Security abuse: Office of Inspector General Department of Health & Human Services ATTN: HOTLINE PO Box 23489 Washington, DC 20026 Phone - 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) Fax - 1-800-223-8164 To report In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Fraud: DHCS IHSS Fraud Hotline: 1-888-717-8302 Email: IBREF@dhcs.ca.gov On-line at: https://apps.dhcs.ca.gov/AutoForm2/default.aspx?af=1828 To report Child Abuse: Child Protective Services: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG93.htm CPS Hot lines: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG20.htm Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.childwelfare.gov/responding/reporting.cfm To report suspected Medi-Cal fraud or elder abuse: California Department of Justice Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud Elder Abuse P.O. Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 Phone Toll-free: (800) 722-0432 Attorney General's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse On-line at: https://oag.ca.gov/bmfea/reporting To report EBT trafficking: USDA’s OIG hotlines: 1-800-424-9121 usda.hotline@oig.usda.gov To report suspected WIC abuse: File a complaint by calling (800) 852-5770, ask for the Program Integrity Unit. File a complaint by writing to: Program Integrity UnitWIC Supplemental Nutrition Branch3901 Lennane DriveSacramento, CA 95834 File a complaint by email to: WICABUSE@cdph.ca.gov eFax: (916) 440-5575 REV 4/25/14

Welfare Fraud Investigations can result in a variety of outcomes A denial of benefits A reduction of benefits A discontinuance of benefits Restitution action In cases where there is clear criminal intent to commit fraud, and the amount of fraud is significant, a complete and detailed report is sent to the District Attorney’s Office with a request for criminal prosecution. Once a conviction is obtained, the offender could: Be ordered to pay restitution Receive a jail sentence in county jail Receive a state prison sentence State of California Fraud Hotline: 1-800-344-TIPS (8477) REV 4/25/14

California Department of Social Services presents…….