{"id":2615336,"date":"2026-06-17T17:08:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T21:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-audit-uncovers-nearly-50m-in-north-carolina-unemployment-fraud\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T17:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T21:11:08","slug":"state-audit-uncovers-nearly-50m-in-north-carolina-unemployment-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-audit-uncovers-nearly-50m-in-north-carolina-unemployment-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"State audit uncovers nearly $50M in North Carolina unemployment fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstate-audit-uncovers-nearly-50m-in-north-carolina-unemployment-fraud%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2615336&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Carolina released two audits revealing nearly $50 million in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calif-officials-say-10-of-states-unemployment-payments-linked-to-fraud\/\" title=\"Calif. officials say 10% of ...\u2019s unemployment payments linked to ...\">unemployment benefit fraud<\/a> within recent years. The reports from the State Auditor&#8217;s office show that out of $168.8 million in overpayments made by the Department of Commerce between April 2021 and March 2025, $47.2 million were fraudulent. The Department of Commerce recovered only $12.2 million of these overpayments. Auditor Dave Boliek criticized government leaders for ignoring this longstanding issue, primarily during former Gov. Roy Cooper\u2019s governance, highlighting ongoing concerns about government waste and improper payments, which have consistently exceeded the national average for over nine years. The audits came alongside a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >federal directive demanding states address unemployment fraud<\/a> and waste, wiht the Department of labor threatening to withhold funds from states like New York, Illinois, and California if they fail to improve oversight. Boliek emphasized the importance of accountability and continued oversight to prevent further misuse of taxpayer dollars.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\">North Carolina<\/a> released a pair of audits on Wednesday, finding nearly $50 million in unemployment benefits <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fraud\/\">fraud <\/a>in the state in recent years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor released two reports stating that $47.2 million of $168.8 million in unemployment benefit overpayments made by the Department of Commerce between April 2021 and March 2025 was fraudulent. That department\u2019s Division of Employment Security only recovered $12.2 million in fraud overpayments during that time,<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.auditor.nc.gov\/documents\/reports\/performance\/per-2026-4650\/open\"> according to<\/a> the audit. State Auditor Dave Boliek criticized state leaders for the fraud, which occurred primarily during former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper\u2019s administration, asserting that \u201cit\u2019s not fair for the government to continually shrug its shoulders at such a longstanding problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4612309\/pennsylvania-supreme-court-slams-philadelphia-larry-krasner\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pennsylvania Supreme Court slams Philadelphia district attorney for pattern of misleading courts when trying to toss murder convictions<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4612664\/rhode-island-judge-misconduct-complaint-attacks-doj-lawyers\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rhode Island judge faces misconduct complaint over attacks on DOJ lawyers<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4612270\/judge-presses-white-house-over-plan-to-keep-kennedy-center-open\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge presses White House over plan to keep Kennedy Center open<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGovernment waste comes in many forms, and in this case, it\u2019s occurring through unemployment insurance. Not only was there a higher rate of improper unemployment benefits, but there was also more than $47 million in fraud overpayments made during the scope of our audit,\u201d Boliek said in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.auditor.nc.gov\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/06\/17\/audits-show-unemployment-benefits-delivered-late-north-carolina-47-million-unemployment-benefits#:~:text=Established%20overpayments%20made%20by%20DES%20from%20April%201%2C%202021%2C%20through,fraud%20overpayments%20during%20that%20time\">report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe North Carolina State Auditor\u2019s Office will continue to serve as our state\u2019s fiscal watchdog, assessing programs and sounding the public alarm to push for improvement,\u201d he continued. \u201cIgnoring problems for years and missing basic public expectation cannot continue to be tolerated.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">North Carolina\u2019s improper payment rate for unemployment benefits \u201chas routinely\u201d exceeded the 10% limit and the national average for the past nine years, according to the report. The primary causes of overpayments in North Carolina have historically been work search requirement errors, benefit year earnings errors, and separation determination errors, it said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audits were released the same day the U.S. Department of Labor<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/newsroom\/releases\/eta\/eta20260617\"> sent letters<\/a> to the governors of all 50 states and territories, demanding \u201cimmediate action to combat fraud, waste, and abuse\u201d within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-bidens-choice-to-oversee-covid-unemployment-benefits-lost-600-million-in-coronavirus-relief-to-nigerian-scammers\/\" title=\"Joe Biden\u2019s Choice To Oversee COVID Unemployment Benefits Lost 0 Million In Coronavirus Relief To Nigerian Scammers\">unemployment insurance program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4609543\/dan-sullivan-same-name-alaska-senate-ineligible\/\">DAN SULLIVAN\u2019S CHALLENGER WITH SAME NAME RULED INELIGIBLE FOR SENATE PRIMARY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe days of excuses are over,\u201d Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D\u2019Esposito said. \u201cStates that fail to protect taxpayer dollars should expect consequences. Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and I will use every available enforcement tool to demand accountability, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/labor-department-threatens-to-withhold-state-funds-over-ui-fraud\/\" title=\"... threatens to withhold ... funds over UI ...\">recover stolen money<\/a>, and ensure unemployment benefits only go to eligible Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Labor Department <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4612099\/labor-department-threatens-withhold-funds-governors-state-unemployment-fraud\/\">particularly slammed<\/a> New York, Illinois, and California over fraud concerns. Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling and D\u2019Esposito threatened to withhold administrative funds from those states and others \u201cfor the first time in history\u201d if fraud challenges are not tackled, in order \u201cto ensure compliance in protecting UI system integrity and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NC audits reveal $47.2M in unemployment fraud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2615337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP24300689252025-e1761137337137.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[41311,38191,32258,61893,70256],"class_list":["post-2615336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-financial-misconduct","tag-government-investigation","tag-north-carolina","tag-state-audit","tag-unemployment-fraud"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP24300689252025-e1761137337137.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615336"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615340,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615336\/revisions\/2615340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}