California Department of Social Services presents…….

1. 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

2. 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

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

4. Examples of EBT Trafficking REV 4/25/14

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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