California paid out $11 billion in fake jobless claims last year, official says
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The state of California paid out $11 billion in fake jobless claims and billions more in payments are being investigated as possible fraud, according to the state Labor Secretary Julie Su.
Out of the $114 billion paid in unemployment claims, nearly 10% have been confirmed as fraudulent, said Su. Another 17%, or nearly $20 billion is under investigation.
"There is no sugarcoating the reality," Su said. "California did not have sufficient security measures in place to prevent this level of fraud, and criminals took advantage of the situation."