A senior investigator in the Trump administration has warned about “fraudfluencers” using social media to promote schemes that allegedly exploit public-benefit programmes and taxpayer funds. The warning matters because such content may make fraud appear accessible or legitimate, potentially encouraging wider misuse of unemployment, disability, food assistance and Social Security systems.

The Department of Labor’s anti-fraud task force has begun a nationwide crackdown on unemployment-benefit fraud, starting in Massachusetts, where officials announced 15 arrests. Authorities allege that some people, including illegal immigrants, used stolen identities to claim benefits; these remain allegations subject to the legal process.