When Republicans in Congress were developing the Working Families Tax Cuts (WFTC) last year, members from across the conservative spectrum signaled their intention to offset new spending and revenue loss by reducing government spending. This is easier said than done. Programs throughout the federal government are saddled with unneeded spending, with many taxpayer dollars going to unintended recipients, fraudsters who skim money that is meant for others, and some Americans who simply don’t need the money. Assessing the scale and scope of these issues can be difficult, partially due to obfuscated government data reports. Once a problem is identified, it can be very hard to fix, thanks to entrenched special interests who benefit from this government largess. As a result, it takes real fortitude to do the work needed to actually cut waste, fraud, and abuse. But the Working Families Tax…
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.