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How missed ‘red flags’ helped Nigerian fraud ring ‘Scattered Canary’ bilk Washington’s unemployment system amid coronavirus chaos
The Seattle Times ^ | 5/25/2020 | Jim Brunner,  Paul Roberts , Patrick Malone 

Posted on 05/25/2020 8:45:47 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie

Earlier this spring, as Washington began to pay out enhanced unemployment benefits to tens of thousands of laid-off and furloughed workers, a criminal organization halfway around the world spied an enormous opportunity.

A Nigerian fraud ring, dubbed “Scattered Canary” by security researchers, would soon begin siphoning off the benefits, notably the extra $600 a week Congress had added to unemployment checks.

Hiding behind a tsunami of legitimate claims, and using personal information likely stolen in past consumer data breaches, the ring and other criminals filed thousands of bogus applications with the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD). By the time the fraud was recognized, scammers had made off with “hundreds of millions of dollars,” ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine acknowledged Thursday.

Exactly how much was carted off by Scattered Canary, as well as other bad actors, hasn’t been determined.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: crime; fraud; nigeria; washington
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To: EinNYC

Olympia is full of stupid, clueless leftists/liberals/Democrats. ‘Nuff said.


21 posted on 05/25/2020 9:56:41 AM PDT by DennisR (Look around. God gives countless clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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To: sheehan

meanwhile, make two withdrawls at the bank totaling over 10,000 and they catch that right away.


22 posted on 05/25/2020 9:57:35 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: Uncle Miltie

btt


23 posted on 05/25/2020 10:08:18 AM PDT by KSCITYBOY (The media is corrupt)
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To: antidemoncrat

Compare these results with those projected from “voting at home,” AKA voting by mail.


24 posted on 05/25/2020 11:52:57 AM PDT by DPMD (uo)
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To: antidemoncrat

Compare these results with those projected from “voting at home,” AKA voting by mail. It’s a guarantee anytime the government gives out a benefit without requiring in-person applications. And the dems know it.


25 posted on 05/25/2020 11:54:03 AM PDT by DPMD (uo)
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To: EinNYC

I don’t think you want to “attenuate” govt workers minds.

Just saying...


26 posted on 05/25/2020 4:39:30 PM PDT by skepsel (I miss William F. Buckley and the old Firing Line)
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