Mass. losing millions to welfare fraud

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Hundreds of people using public assistance programs have been caught trying to cheat the state out of millions of dollars. 

The state auditor's office found that more than 500 people defrauded the state of close to $3 million in April, May and June of this year alone.

The investigation includes fraud involving public assistance money like welfare, food stamps, c hildcare services, health care benefits, public housing or cash assistance.  The people that are caught have to pay back the money or potentially face jail time. 

Elroy Barber, from Holyoke, told 22News that this doesn't surprise him at all.

Barber said, "Based on Holyoke experience, I'd have to say there's a lot of fraud out there and they're probably not uncovering it. I'm sure they're trying their hardest, but I think they don't have enough inspectors to look for this stuff.”

What's more difficult to track is cash. 85 percent of the money in the state's EBT program is taken out at ATMs.