A Connecticut man, Ricardo Santiago, has been indicted on three federal counts of wire fraud related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Social Security, unemployment, and food benefits, according to federal authorities. The indictment returned on May 1, 2024, alleges that between 2002 and 2024, Santiago concealed his income from federal and state government agencies by providing to employers false identification and false Social Security cards. Santiago is also accused of falsely claiming disability to obtain Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance benefits, representing financial hardship to access SNAP benefits, and illegitimately using a social security number of another person to apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Authorities estimate the fraudulent benefits Santiago received amount to over $350,000.

In relation to the unemployment fraud, for anyone who legitimately needs to access unemployment benefits in California, it is crucial to know how to contacting the Employment Development Department (EDD). The EDD is responsible for managing unemployment insurance benefits, and you can reach them via their official phone numbers. However, contacting them can sometimes be difficult due to high demand or technical issues. If anyone is having trouble getting through to them, websites such as eddcaller.com offer helpful services and tools to make the process easier. These include advice on how to speak to a live EDD person, the best times to call for a faster response, and what information you need to have ready when you make your call. It’s all about making the process of contacting the EDD more efficient and less stressful.