The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the Unemployment Fraud Task Force (UFTF) has found evidence many fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits in Oklahoma were generated over the state line and possibly out of the country. Because of that, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service has taken over the investigation.
Fraudulent claims came into the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission as the federal COVID-19 funds began to help with unemployment payments.
“These criminals might be outside of our reach, but they are not outside the reach of the United States federal government,” said OSBI Director Ricky Adams. “Our agents and intelligence analysts will be here to assist our federal partners as necessary, especially if this criminal activity leads to an Oklahoma connection.”
