Is Welfare Fraud Really a Problem?

The welfare system in the United States, as well asCommon Types Of Welfare Fraud
many other developed nations around the world, is in* Unreported Income: By and far the most common
place to help those who are unable to work, orform of welfare fraud. The criminal collects a welfare
experiencing financial hardships for reasons beyondcheck, and also receives income from other sources
their control. Welfare has always been an extremelythat they don't report to the Government. The
controversial issue, and one of the biggest argumentsincome may come from working "under the table",
that opponents of the welfare system make is thatfrom illegal activities such as drug sales, or any
the system is too easy for people to takenumber of other sources.
advantage of. No matter what your opinion on the* Absent Parent In The Home: Another very
welfare system in general is, it's easy to see whycommon form of welfare fraud. This is when an
these complaints are being made. The fact is thatindividual applies for welfare as a single parent, when
welfare fraud is an all too common occurrence.the other parent does in fact live in the home.
Anytime there is easy money to be had, you can* Ineligible Child Or Children: This type of welfare
expect scammers and con-artists to try and exploitfraud occurs when a parent reports children who
the system. It's a constant battle between criminalsaren't in their custody, don't live in the home, or in
and the Governments of the world. The real victimssome cases, don't even exist.
of these crimes are the tax paying citizens, as well* False Aliases: Some people take extreme
as the people who really do need the Governmentmeasures, going as far as creating false identities in
assistance. So how are these crimes occurring, andorder to make one or even multiple welfare claims.
what can we do to prevent them?