Associated Press Published

Attorney General's Office Looking for Social Security Fraud


The West Virginia Attorney General’s Office says it has added a criminal investigations component to its unit looking for Social Security disability fraud.

Two investigators and an analyst have been working with the Social Security Administration, its inspector general’s office and the state’s Disability Determination Section to review suspicious or questionable disability claims.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says they have helped administratively prevent more than $1.4 million in improper payments over the first nine months.

According to Morrisey, they are now also reviewing past claims and payments for fraud and possible referral to county and federal prosecutors.

The Attorney General’s Office has 95 attorneys among 188 staff, including two cross-designated as assistant federal prosecutors.

The Social Security Administration runs a hotline on weekdays for calling in suspected fraud at 1-800-269-0271.