Author: Elizabeth Blessing
-
Treasury traced $17.5 billion in suspected health-care fraud across 5,702 bank reports
The Treasury Department’s financial-intelligence bureau analyzed 5,702 Bank Secrecy Act reports and identified about $17.5 billion in suspicious activity potentially linked to health-care fraud. The number is a warning signal compiled from financial institutions, not a court finding that all $17.5 billion was stolen or that every named transaction was criminal. The reports covered one…
-
University of Hawaii breach victims can seek up to $5,000 by November 2
People notified that their private information may have been compromised in the University of Hawaii’s August 2025 data incident can seek up to $5,000 for documented extraordinary losses. The proposed settlement also offers an estimated $50 alternative cash payment and monitoring services, with claim forms due November 2, 2026. Notice from the university defines the…
-
Americold’s $5.25 million breach settlement accepts victim claims through October 22
People notified that Americold data incidents affected their private information can submit claims in a proposed $5.25 million settlement through October 22, 2026. The fund offers documented-loss payments of up to $25,000, estimated residual cash payments and credit monitoring, but all payments depend on valid claims and final court approval. The class is limited to…
-
A bribery conspiracy cost Puerto Rico an estimated $6,772,578 in tax revenue
A Puerto Rico Treasury employee has admitted joining a bribery conspiracy that erased tax debts and caused an estimated $6,772,578 in lost public revenue. Alexander Ortiz-Robles pleaded guilty on September 8, 2026, becoming the third department employee in three months to admit involvement in related bribery or fraud schemes. Access to tax records powered the…
-
Social Security mishandled an estimated 7,000 requests to explain overpayment debts
Social Security employees incorrectly processed an estimated 7,000-plus requests from beneficiaries asking the agency to explain overpayment debts, a new inspector-general audit found. Some requests remained unresolved for more than 900 days, while missing documentation and deficient explanations made it harder to understand or challenge a debt. The estimate comes from a reviewed sample The…
-
A COVID-loan fraudster owed the IRS $766,707.20 after skipping two years of tax returns
A Florida woman convicted of COVID-relief fraud also failed to file personal and business tax returns for 2020 and 2021, leaving $766,707.20 owed to the IRS for those two years. A federal judge has sentenced Verlynn Horne to 30 months in prison and ordered forfeiture of $2,517,930 plus a Winter Garden residence. The tax debt…
-
A man who hid businesses and income collected more than $270,000 in disability benefits
A Maryland man received more than $270,000 in Social Security disability and auxiliary benefits while concealing two cleaning businesses, work and income from the agency, federal prosecutors say. A judge has sentenced Andrew Langford to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud. The benefits ran from 2014 through 2021…
-
A pulmonary practice will pay $419,410 over allegedly unnecessary or inflated Medicare visits
A Florida pulmonary practice has agreed to pay $419,410 to resolve federal allegations that it billed Medicare for office visits that were medically unnecessary or coded at a higher level than the services supported. The settlement covers claims from January 2017 through March 2020 and does not represent a court finding that every allegation was…
-
USA Clinics text recipients can claim up to $150 by October 5
Some people who received marketing texts from USA Clinics Group can file for as much as $150 under a proposed class settlement, but a valid claim must be submitted by October 5, 2026. The maximum is based on up to $50 for each qualifying message, capped at three messages, and actual payments can fall if…
-
Counterfeit Social Security cards allegedly sold for $750 while carrying real people’s numbers
Federal prosecutors allege that counterfeit Social Security cards sold for $750 apiece contained names and numbers belonging to real people. A grand jury indictment in Georgia charges Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez with document trafficking and identity theft, but the charges remain allegations and no conviction has been entered. Three undercover purchases form the core account According to…