California EDD Recovers Over a Billion Dollars in Stolen Unemployment

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istock_12821_cashmoneypile

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The California Employment Development Department said Tuesday that they have recovered $1.1 billion in stolen unemployment insurance funds. The money was found on approximately 780-thousand inactivated benefit cards. Former U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott is leading California’s effort to combat fraud. Scott says they will “continue to put fraudsters behind bars and recover every stolen dollar that (they) can.” Most of the money will be returned to the feds as it was part of the emergency federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. The California EDD runs one of the nation’s largest public benefit systems.