Justice Department cracks down on fraud cases connected to COVID-19
DNY59/iStockBy ABC News
(WASHINGTON) — U.S. government agencies have been hard at work since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Justice Department is no different. The DOJ has just announced hundreds of COVID-19 related fraud charges during the current national health emergency.
Justice officials charged 474 defendants with trying to steal more than $569 million in COVID-related fraud schemes. They have also seized at least $580 million in civil proceedings.
The department says the attempts at fraud came from several places, including the Paycheck Protection Program, disaster loan programs and unemployment insurance.
It isn’t the first time fraud has stemmed from government programs. The 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program resulted in the recovery of $11 billion related to fraudulent claims, according to The Washington Post.
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