Fraud Archives - Office of the Washington State Auditor

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How SAO will audit Washington’s Employment Security Department in light of major unemployment fraud

August 14, 2020

At the State Auditor’s Office, we’ve heard from members of the public, the Legislature and the media interested to know about the work we are conducting at the state Employment Security Department (ESD). The agency was targeted in a major unemployment benefits fraud scheme earlier this year. SAO is conducting a series of audits of ESD to address three main areas of concern in the unemployment insurance program.

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Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy signs a document at her desk.

State Auditor announces special review of unemployment benefit fraud

June 10, 2020

State Auditor Pat McCarthy notified Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Legislature today that the Office of the Washington State Auditor will begin two special examinations of the significant fraud and loss of public funds at the state Employment Security Department.

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How and when to seek SAO approval for a restitution agreement

June 8, 2020

State law requires local governments and state agencies to approval in writing from the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) and the Attorney General’s Office for settlement or compromise of any claim arising from misappropriation. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions to help you navigate this requirement.

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Information from the Washington State Auditor about the state’s unemployment and Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) fraud

June 3, 2020

Criminals, suspected to be part of an international crime ring, have targeted the state’s Employment Security Department and are filing fraudulent unemployment claims using the names and personal information of real people to steal public money. Here are a few questions and answers regarding this fraud.

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Close-up Of Businessperson Hands Checking Invoice With Magnifying Glass At Desk

Loss of funds at economic development association underscores need for audits

May 14, 2020

The Camas-Washougal Economic Development Association resisted audits for years, lost public funds and lacked even basic financial documentation since its inception, the Office of the Washington State Auditor found in two reports issued today.

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Judge's gavel, scales of justice and law books

Pierce County public fraud investigation leads to indictment

March 5, 2020

In December, we published the results of Washington’s largest public fraud investigation on record. This week, the person we identified as having misappropriated $6.9 million from a local government was indicted on federal charges.

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Business papers with financial report and magnifying glass

State Auditor’s Office uncovers $7 million misappropriation

December 16, 2019

Today, the Office of the Washington State Auditor released its report on a major fraud investigation involving the Pierce County Housing Authority. The State Auditor’s Office investigation found nearly $7 million in misappropriated public funds, which is the largest case of its kind on record for a Washington local government.

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Where are your payments going this month?

September 5, 2019

It is common practice to use automated clearing house (ACH) systems to pay state and local government employees and vendors. However, frauds associated with ACH systems are rising dramatically, particularly for direct deposit paychecks.

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SAO now issues public report on each fraud investigation

August 30, 2019

To meet stakeholders’ needs and increase transparency, going forward SAO will report all fraud investigations through a public report that will be published on our website. In the past, smaller losses had been reported to management in a letter rather than in a public report.

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A drainage ditch along an agricultural field

Auditor’s Office issues fraud report regarding troubled King County drainage district, calls for public engagement in government accountability

May 22, 2019

Today the Office of the Washington State Auditor released a pair of reports regarding King County Drainage District 5: a fraud investigation and a new type of report identifying the district as “unauditable.”
The Office also published an online guide to more than 35 other small local governments that have failed to file any public financial information for years, rendering them unauditable.

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Results for: Fraud