The state Auditor’s Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) has uncovered nearly $12 million in public benefits fraud, including $4.1 million in SNAP fraud, just a month after a federal investigation busted a $7 million SNAP fraud scheme.
For the fiscal year that ended on June 30, the Auditor’s BSI identified $11,952,288 in public assistance fraud after conducting 4,179 investigations.
The largest amount of this was found within the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), totaling $4.1 million. MassHealth accounted for the next highest amount of fraud, totaling $1.3 million. Investigators also completed 22 civil recoveries totaling nearly $800,000 in fraudulent overpayments.
“For countless residents across the Commonwealth, these programs offer access to everyday items they need, including food and medical services,” Auditor Diana DiZoglio said in a statement. “Through the work of our fraud examiners, we continue to help ensure they operate with transparency, accountability, and equity. Our team will continue to work to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and that resources are available to those who truly need and qualify for them.”
In a statement sent to the Herald, Gov. Maura Healey’s Office said Healey is “very focused” on rooting out fraud and abuse, despite the governor refusing to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with information on SNAP recipients in Massachusetts, including their immigration status.
“As a former AG, Governor Healey is very focused on rooting out fraud and abuse. These are primarily cases that our agencies identified and reported to the Auditor’s office. We have strong program integrity processes in place to detect fraud and abuse, and we take immediate action,” said Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand.
In December, the governor blasted the Trump Administration and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for the demand, saying Massachusetts will not comply. President Trump has threatened to withhold SNAP food aid from states that refuse to provide the information. Hand tells the Herald the governor still refuses to provide the Trump administration with the information.
“The Trump Administration has refused to give us assurances that this sensitive personal data, including social security numbers, will not be turned over to ICE or abused for other purposes. A judge said this data shouldn’t be turned over, and there’s a case going on right now. If the Trump Administration agrees they will protect people’s sensitive data from places like ICE, we will of course consider providing it,” Hand said.
The report summarizes BSI’s work and initiatives for what the Auditor’s Office says is “to help make government work better” through investigations into fraud, abuse, and illegal acts involving public assistance benefits. BSI investigates allegations of fraud in MassHealth, programs run by the Department of Transitional Assistance, and the Department of Early Education and Care.
The Auditor’s Office also says that, notably, its BSI helped secure a guilty plea for a Hyannis woman for more than $140,000 in welfare fraud, as well as an admission by a Gloucester woman to committing over $20,000 worth of welfare fraud.
The news comes a month after the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the arrests of two men who allegedly obtained nearly $7 million in fraudulent SNAP benefits through a “criminal enterprise” out of tiny retail stores in Boston.
The Herald has reached out to the Auditor’s Office for more information.
