In a statement on Friday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office announced the results of Operation Reclaim and Rebuild, a statewide effort to combat human trafficking.
Tipline Investigation: Protect yourself and loved ones from Romance Scams and Money Mules
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Heartbreaking scams that target senior citizens in our community are on the rise during the pandemic. The crooks don’t stop at pilfering bank accounts, they plunder the victims heart as well.
Some law enforcement call it the Romance Scam. Technically, that’s what it is but the name doesn’t convey the amount of destruction it causes to the victims and their families and sadly the horrible people who commit these crimes are rarely caught.
Many senior citizens are turning to dating websites as the pandemic drags on. They’re lonely and looking for companionship even if it’s through a keyboard and that makes them a perfect target.
Three people plead guilty in unemployment fraud in Santa Barbara County
January 25, 2021
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
A man and woman from San Diego stole customers’ identities from businesses across the United States, including a Santa Barbara property management firm, and used them to file fraudulent unemployment claims, which cost California taxpayers more than $2 million.
Gordon Alan Welterlen, 37, and Nicole Michelle Milan, 31, along with Rosa Maria Bradley, 40, of Santa Barbara pleaded guilty on Friday to felony charges related to the fraud, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced. Another three alleged co-conspirators are also facing charges in the Santa Barbara County court case.
Fraud linked to California’s Unemployment Department may hit eight billion dollars and expands to other states
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Our series of Tipline reports about fraud in California’s unemployment system indicates the loss to taxpayers could hit a staggering eight billion dollars.
Some law enforcement officials have already confirmed the fraud has been linked to prisoners at every jail and prison in California. That massive and complex investigation is underway right now and it s expanding to other states.
Authorities are investigating inmates at prisons across the U.S. who ve allegedly been scamming the system and getting money from California s Employment Development Department, the EDD, which oversees the state s unemployment benefit system.