EXCLUSIVE: The rise of a new type of fraudster has a top Trump administration investigator sounding the alarm as new — albeit brazen — schemes for ripping off hard-working American taxpayers emerge.The Department of Labor (DOL) Inspector General is warning of a growing cottage industry of online scammers, dubbed "fraudfluencers," who boast their skill in exploiting government programs and facilitate fraud on behalf of others.Typically, the scammers take a cut of the fraudulently obtained benefits."This isn’t just a crime — it’s a deliberate and public betrayal of every hardworking American who plays by the rules," DOL Inspector General Anthony P.
D’Esposito told Fox News Digital."Fraud is not a trend or content; it’s theft of taxpayer dollars, and it will be prosecuted."Former Rep.
Anthony D'Esposito, R-N.Y., speaks during a news conference announcing the formation of the bipartisan Aviation Safety Caucus outside the U.S.Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept.
11, 2024.D'Esposito is now the Department of Labor's Inspector General.
(Bonnie Cash/Getty Images)EXCLUSIVE: WOMAN WHO STOLE $1.7M MEANT FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS GETS PRISON TIME AS DHS CRACKS DOWN ON FEMA FRAUDIn one case, a California Employment Development Department (EDD) contract employee named Britteny Egland openly used her social media to invite others to participate in her schemes.She offered to help her followers take advantage of taxpayer-funded programs they weren't qualified for by using insider information and stolen identities to file fraudulent unemployment insurance, grant and rent relief applications. Egland had nearly 10,000 followers on Instagram and over 1,500 followers on X at the time of the posts.
Her actions exhibit a growing cottage industry of online schemers who brazenly solicit others to team up and commit fraud.She went on to steal $2.8 million from government coffers."NEW OR REGULAR CLAIMS ONLY," a typical post from the fraudfluencer, who used the handle @Britiss...