OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
DOL-OIG Oversight of the Unemployment Insurance Program
AUDIT AND OTHER REPORTS
- Alert Memorandum: ETA Does Not Require the National Association of State Workforce Agencies to Report Suspected UI Fraud Data to the OIG
Report No. 19-21-006-03-315 (July 1, 2021)
No Summary | [Full Report
] {328 KB} | [Response ] - Alert Memorandum: The Employment and Training Administration Needs to Issue Guidance to Ensure State Workforce Agencies Provide Requested Unemployment Insurance Data to the Office of Inspector General
Report No. 19-21-005-03-315 (June 16, 2021)
No Summary | [Full Report] {602 KB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: States Struggled to Implement Cares Act Unemployment Insurance Programs
Report No. 19-21-004-03-315 (May 28, 2021)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {3.74 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: Increased Worksite Complaints and Reduced OSHA Inspections Leave U.S. Workers' Safety at Increased Risk
Report No. 19-21-003-10-105 (February 25, 2021)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {652 KB} | [Response ] - Alert Memorandum: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Needs to Ensure State Workforce Agencies (SWA) Implement Effective Unemployment Insurance Program Fraud Controls for High Risk Areas
Report No. 19-21-002-03-315 (February 22, 2021)
No Summary | [Full Report] {224 KB} | [Response ] - CIGIE Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing Multiple Federal Agencies (February 3, 2021)
- Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Update: Top Challenges in Pandemic Relief and Response (February 3, 2021
- Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Federal COVID-19 Testing Report: Data Insights from Six Federal Health Care Programs (January 14, 2021)
- Semiannual Report to Congress, Volume 84 (April 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020)
- 2020 Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the U.S. Department of Labor
- COVID-19: States Cite Vulnerabilities in Detecting Fraud While Complying with the CARES Act UI Program Self-Certification Requirement
Report No. 19-21-001-03-315 (October 21, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {1.88 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: OSHA Needs To Improve Its Handling Of WhistleBlower Complaints During the Pandemic
Report No. 19-20-010-10-105 (August 14, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {1.69 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: WHD Needs To Closely Monitor The Pandemic Impact On Its Operations
Report No. 19-20-009-15-001 (August 07, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {1.92 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: More Can Be Done to Mitigate Risk to Unemployment Compensation Under The CARES Act
Report No. 19-20-008-03-315 (August 07, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {1.60 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: ETA Should Continue To Closely Monitor Impact On Job Corps Program
Report No. 19-20-007-03-370 (July 28, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {0.78 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: MSHA Faces Multiple Challenges in Responding to the Pandemic
Report No. 19-20-006-06-001 (July 24, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {1.72 MB} | [Response ] - COVID-19: OWCP Should Continue to Closely Monitor Impact on Claims Processing
Report No. 19-20-004-04-001 (July 6, 2020)
[Summary] | [Full Report ] {1.72 MB} | [Response ] - Advisory Report: CARES Act: Key Areas of Concern Regarding Implementation of Dislocated Worker Grant Provisions
Report No. 19-20-005-03-391 (June 23, 2020)
No Summary | [Full Report] {272 KB} - Top Pandemic Challenges Facing the U.S. Department of Labor (June 17, 2020)
- Alert Memorandum: The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Needs Proactive Measures to Detect and Prevent Improper Payments and Fraud
Report No. 19-20-002-03-315 (May 26, 2020)
No Summary | [Full Report] {195 KB} | [Response ] - Alert Memorandum: ETA Needs to Improve its Plans for Providing Administrative, Financial Management, and Audit Requirements Relief to Grant Recipients Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Report No. 19-20-003-03-001 (May 19, 2020)
No Summary | [Full Report] {933 KB} - CARES Act: Initial Areas of Concern Regarding Implementation of Unemployment Insurance Provisions
Report No. 19-20-001-03-315 (April 21, 2020)
No Summary | [Full Report] {327 MB}
Recently Announced Projects
- Audit of ETA’s Oversight of UI Integrity for CARES Act Programs
- April 19, 2021, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of CARES Act UI Program Payment Promptness and Claimant Eligibility
- April 19, 2021, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of COVID-19: OSHA Operations and Efforts to Protect Workers
- February 22, 2021, Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Audit of Job Corps COVID-19 Resumption of Center Operations Plans
- November 13, 2020, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of COVID-19 OSHA Inspections Collaboration Process
- October 9, 2020, Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Audit of COVID-19 Dislocated Worker Grants (DWG)
- August 24, 2020, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of WHD’s Implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Phase 2)
- August 14, 2020, Wage and Hour Division - Audit of OWCP's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Phase 2)
- August 6, 2020, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs - Audit of DOL and States Implementation of CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Provisions
- July 6, 2020, Employment and Training Administration - Initiation of Audit of COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Job Corps Center Operations
- May 22, 2020, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on OWCP Claims Processing and Adjudication
- May 7, 2020, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs - Audit of OSHA COVID-19 Whistleblower Complaint Process
- May 6, 2020, Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Audit of Unemployment Insurance Self-Certification Fraud Detection under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program
- May 5, 2020, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on MSHA Inspections and Investigations” Engagement Letter
- April 29, 2020, Mine Safety & Health Administration - Audit of WHD’s Plan for Implementing COVID-19 Guidance and Oversight
- April 20, 2020, Wage and Hour Division - Audit of DOL's Response to Unemployment Insurance Programs Expansion under the CARES Act
- April 14, 2020, Employment and Training Administration - Audit of OSHA's Guidance to Workplaces for Preventing Exposures to COVID-19
- April 14, 2020, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Fraud Alerts
-
Fraudulent SWA Website/Links and Phishing
- March 4, 2021 -
Issuance of Erroneous Forms 1099-G due to Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims
- February 26, 2021 -
Text Message Phishing Scheme
- January 29, 2021 -
Money Mule Awareness Campaign One-Pager
- September 22, 2020 -
Unemployment Insurance Fraud Consumer Protection Guide
- September 21, 2020 -
Unemployment Insurance Phishing Fraud Alert
(En Español)
- June 12, 2020 -
Unemployment Insurance Fraud Alert
(En Español)
- April 16, 2020
INVESTIGATIONS
- Southwest Virginia Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Role in Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO WD-VA 07/27/2021)
- Bristol, Tennessee Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Role in Pandemic Unemployment Scheme (USAO WD-VA 07/26/2021)
- Two SCI Inmates, Two Allegheny County Residents Charged in Schemes to Smuggle Synthetic Cannabinoids into State Prisons and to Obtain Pandemic Unemployment Benefits (USAO WD-PA 07/26/2021)
- Former New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to False Pandemic Unemployment Claims (USAO D-MA 07/23/2021)
- Stoneham Man Indicted for Identity Theft and Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (USAO D-MA 07/22/2021)
- Nine San Diego Residents Charged with Submitting Fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Claims and Drug Crimes in Two Cases (USAO SD-CA 07/22/2021)
- Employment Development Department Enlists Former U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott to Boost California’s Unemployment Insurance Fraud Crackdown (CA-EDD 07/20/2021)
- Lawrence Woman Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO D-MA 07/15/2021)
- Wise County Man Sentenced in Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO WD-VA 07/15/2021)
- Leicester Woman and Man Charged in Superseding Indictment in COVID-19 Pandemic Scheme (USAO D-MA 07/12/2021)
- Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty To Filing Fraudulent Claims For Over $250,000 In Unemployment Insurance Benefits Through Mail Fraud Scheme (USAO D-NV 07/06/2021)
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Admits Health Care Fraud Conspiracy and Conspiring to Engage in Money Laundering and Obstruct Justice (USAO D-NJ 07/06/2021)
- Burgettstown Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits while Incarcerated and Ineligible (USAO WD-PA 06/30/2021)
- State Contractor Pleads Guilty in $3 million Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO ED-MI 06/30/2021)
- Two felons sentenced to prison for scheme to steal thousands in COVID-19 unemployment insurance funds (USAO SD-GA 06/29/2021)
- Portsmouth Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Benefits for Virginia Prison Inmates (USAO ED-VA 06/24/2021)
- Nigerian National indicted in Washington State for fraud on COVID-19 economic relief programs (USAO WD-WA 06/24/2021)
- Seven charged for roles in a $110 million compound drug scheme (USAO SD-TX 06/17/2021)
- Maryland Man Charged with Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $500,000 (USAO D-NJ 06/16/2021)
- 3 Inland Empire Women Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud for Illegally Obtaining COVID-Related Jobless Benefits in Prison Inmates’ Names (USAO CD-CA 06/14/2021)
- Tampa, Florida Man Facing Federal Indictment for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Other Federal Charges (USAO D-MD 06/11/2021)
- Russell Co. Woman Sentenced in $499,000 Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO WD-VA 06/11/2021)
- Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-Related Unemployment Benefits for Prison Inmates (USAO ED-VA 06/11/2021)
- Fresno Woman Charged with COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Benefits Fraud (USAO ED-CA 05/27/2021)
- Charlotte Man Is Charged With Using Stolen Identities To Defraud Government-Funded Coronavirus Aid Relief Programs Of More Than $200,000 (USAO WD-NC 5/25/2021)
- Schaller Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud (USAO ND-IA 05/21/2021)
- Two Camden County Residents Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud Victims of More Than $1.4 Million in Coronavirus Relief Fraud Scheme (USAO D-NJ 05/20/2021)
- Eight Brooklyn Individuals Charged With Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Relief Fraud (USAO ED-NY 05/18/2021)
- Nigerian citizen charged with defrauding Washington State Employment Security Department of over $350,000 (USAO WD-WA 05/17/2021)
- Malden Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-Relief Fraud and Identity Theft (USAO D-MA 05/13/2021)
- U.S. Secret Service Helps Recover $2B Through Investigations into COVID-19-Related Financial Fraud (USSS Press Release 05/12/2021)
- Georgia Man Indicted on Charges of Wire Fraud Involving Unemployment Compensation and the CARES Act Using Residences in Homewood and DeKalb, Illinois (USAO ND-IL 05/12/2021)
- Allen Park Tax Preparer Arrested in Scheme to Obtain Pandemic Unemployment Benefits (USAO ED-MI 05/06/2021)
- Novi Man Charged in Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme (USAO ED-MI 05/06/2021)
- Bristol, Tennessee Woman Pleads Guilty as Part of Ongoing Prosecution of CARES Act Fraudsters (USAO WD-VA 05/05/2021)
- Dudley Man Arrested for Theft and Misuse of COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance (USAO D-MA 05/04/2021)
- Texan sentenced in CARES Act unemployment fraud scheme (USAO SD-TX 05/04/2021)
- "John Doe" Charged in Superseding Indictment with Identity Theft and Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO D-MA 05/03/2021)
- Las Vegas Woman Sentenced For Unemployment Benefits Scheme (USAO D-NV 04/29/2021)
- The New York State Department Of Labor Prevents Cyber Criminals From Stealing More Than $12 Billion In Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19 Pandemic (NYS DOL 04/29/2021)
- 23 Indicted on Federal CARES Act Unemployment Fraud Charges (USAO WD-VA 04/28/2021)
- Sioux City Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Related Unemployment Fraud (USAO ND-IA 04/20/2021)
- Saint Paul, Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Scheme (USAO WD-VA 04/16/2021)
- Twelve Individuals Indicted And Arrested For Unemployment Benefits And Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Fraud (USAO D-PR 4/13/2021)
- Man Sentenced for Defrauding Nearly 1,700 Victims in $1 Million Small Business Loan Scam (USAO ED-VA 04/09/2021)
- Hot Springs Man Pleads Guilty To Charges In Connection With Obtaining Coronavirus Relief Funds (USAO WD-AR 04/09/2021)
- Two Stoneham Residents Arrested on Charges of Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO D-MA 04/09/2021)
- Four Individuals Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Benefits for Virginia Prison Inmates (USAO ED-VA 04/09/2021)
- 3 Inland Empire Women Arrested on Charges of Illegally Obtaining COVID-Related Unemployment Benefits in Names of Prison Inmates (USAO CD-CA 04/09/2021)
- Wise County Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO D-WV 04/08/2021)
- CARES Act Fraud Investigations Identify Twenty-Three Individuals Targeting Thirty-One Million Dollars (USAO D-RI 04/08/2021)
- Lawrence Woman Arrested for Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO D-MA 04/02/2021)
- Southern District of Florida Takes Sweeping Action Against CARES Act Fraud (USAO SD-FL 03/26/2021)
- Buffalo Woman Arrested And Charged With Stealing Unemployment Benefits; Used Money To Pay For Plastic Surgery (USAO WD-NY 03/22/2021)
- Two felons admit guilt in scheme to steal thousands in COVID-19 unemployment insurance funds (USAO SD-GA 03/18/2021)
- Two Postal Service Employees Face Federal Charges of Using Funds from Unemployment Insurance Scheme to Buy Postal Money Orders (USAO CD-CA 03/10/2021)
- Local alleged drug dealers also charged with falsely obtaining tens of thousands of dollars through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (USAO SD-OH 03/05/2021)
- Justice Department Warns About Fake Unemployment Benefit Websites (DOJ-OPA 03/04/2021)
- COVID-19 Unemployment Benefit Fraud Scheme Charged (USAO ED-CA 03/03/2021)
- Federal Indictment Charges Charlotte Man For Defrauding COVID-19 Government Benefits Programs (USAO WD-NC 2/22/2021)
- San Gabriel Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charge for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $500,000 in COVID-19 Jobless Relief (USAO CD-CA 02/18/2021)
- Westmoreland County Woman Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Fraud (USAO WD-PA 02/11/2021)
- Arizona Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Multiple Fraudulently-Obtained Unemployment Insurance Benefits Debit Cards (USAO D-NV 02/03/2021)
- Springfield Woman Indicted on Charges of Fraud Related to Small Business Administration COVID-19 Disaster Loan Program (USAO CD-IL 02/03/2021)
- West Virginia Woman Admits Filing for Pandemic Unemployment Benefits for Incarcerated Co-defendant (USAO WD-PA 02/02/2021)
- Former Department of Unemployment Assistance Employee and Husband Indicted on Fraud Charges Arising From Pandemic Unemployment Claims (USAO D-MA 01/21/2021)
- Le Mars Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Related Unemployment Fraud (USAO ND-IA 01/21/2021)
- Attorney General Raoul Announces Attorney General's Task Force on Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud (IL Attorney General 01/08/2021)
- U.S. Attorney's Office Announces: (1) Funding to Hire Prosecutor to Combat Unemployment Insurance Fraud and (2) Charges Against Man for Unemployment Insurance Fraud (USAO D-NV 12/23/2020)
- Saratoga Springs Man Charged with COVID-19 Relief Unemployment Insurance Fraud (USAO ND-NY 12/21/2020)
- Former Department of Unemployment Assistance Employee and Husband Arrested on Fraud Charges Arising from Pandemic Unemployment Claims (USAO D-MA 12/18/2020)
- Former California Unemployment Office Worker Charged in Scheme to Steal Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Aid (USAO SD-CA 12/17/2020)
- Two COVID-19 Unemployment Benefit Fraud Schemes Charged in the Eastern District of California (USAO ED-CA 12/17/2020)
- Menifee Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Criminal Charge for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $500,000 in COVID-19 Jobless Relief (USAO CD-CA 12/16/2020)
- U.S. Law Enforcement Takes Action Against Approximately 2,300 Money Mules In Global Crackdown On Money Laundering (DOJ News Release 12/02/2020)
- Atlanta Woman Charged with Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fraud and Identity Theft (USAO ND-GA 11/16/2020)
- Farmington Hills Man Indicted in Unemployment Insurance, Credit Card Scams (USAO ED-MI 10/28/2020)
- Six Individuals Charged with Federal Identity Fraud Crimes (USAO D-MA 10/23/2020)
- Department of Justice is Combatting COVID-19 Fraud but Reminds the Public to Remain Vigilant (USAO WD-LA 10/20/2020)
- Rapper Who Bragged about Unemployment Benefits Scam in Music Video Arrested for Allegedly Bilking COVID-19 Jobless Relief Program (USAO CD-CA 10/16/2020)
- Four Arrested, More Than $1.2m Seized in Federal, State Investigation into CARES Act Unemployment Benefits Fraud in Rhode Island (USAO D-RI 10/14/2020)
- Charlotte Man Involved in Two Separate Identity Theft Schemes Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges (USAO WD-NC 10/02/2020)
- Four Chester County Residents Charged with COVID-19 Related Unemployment Fraud (USAO ED-PA 09/01/2020)
- Two Charged in $1.8 Million Unemployment Insurance Scam (USAO ED-MI 08/25/2020)
- Melrose Man Indicted for Unemployment Insurance Scam (USAO D-MA 08/24/2020)
- Southfield Man Charged in Multi-State Idenity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO ED-MI 08/19/2020)
- State Contractor Charged in $2 million Unemployment Fraud Scheme (USAO ED-MI 7/17/2020)
- Maryland Department of Labor Uncovers Massive Criminal Fraud Scheme (Maryland Dept. of Labor 7/15/2020)
- 8 Arrested on Federal Indictment Alleging Scheme to Obtain $1.1 Million in Unemployment Benefits Through Sham Companies (USAO CD-CA 07/07/2020)
- Nearly 3,800 Fraudulently Filed Unemployment Insurance Claims Blocked by the U.S. Department of Labor (USAO ND-OK 06/29/2020)
- Attorney General Nessel Establishes Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force To Pursue Bad Actors (MI Attorney Gen. News Release 06/05/2020)
- State and Federal Officials Urge Mainers to Report Unemployment Fraud (USAO D-ME 05/26/2020)
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
- Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19: The CARES Act and the Role of Unemployment Insurance During the Pandemic
June 9, 2020 – Statement for the Record of Scott S. Dahl, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor
Senate Committee on Finance - Subcommittee on Government Operations Briefing with the Inspector General for the Department of Labor
June 1, 2020 – Statement of Scott S. Dahl, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor House Committee on Oversight and Reform; Subcommittee on Government Operations
OIG HOTLINE
If you would like to report an allegation of fraud involving unemployment insurance or other U.S. Department of Labor activities or programs, please contact the OIG Hotline at: https://www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm or 202-693-6999 or 1-800-347-3756.
