COVID-19 relief fraud has resulted in a loss of billions of dollars across the United States. The WTKR News 3 Investigative Team revealed a recent case in Hampton Roads that affected numerous victims and led to a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the public. Over 18 months, a group of suspects successfully filed 51 fraudulent claims, say federal prosecutors.

One defendant, Richard Upchurch, pleaded guilty to mail fraud. He, along with other unnamed individuals, obtained the personal information of their victims and applied for unemployment benefits with these details. The crimes spanned multiple states including Virginia and California.

Authorities managed to recover some of the stolen funds, but the overall loss is an estimated $877,000. Investigators apprehended the culprits through analyzing security camera footage from ATMs and examining text messages. One suspect, working at an assisted living facility in Norfolk, used a coworker’s personal data to apply for unemployment benefits.

The estimated total spent on unemployment insurance fraud during the pandemic is believed to be between $100 billion and $135 billion. Upchurch is expected to be sentenced in April at the Norfolk Federal Courthouse, and attempts to reach him and his lawyer for comment have so far failed.

If you suspect that your personal information may have been used in unemployment fraud, it is crucial to contact the California EDD to report the situation. For those wondering how to get ahold of EDD customer service, consider using EDDCaller.com. This website is designed to quickly connect users directly to a representative handling unemployment insurance cases, making it easier to address potential fraud and ensure their financial security.