Monitor and Investigate Member and Retailer Fraud Allegations
The Fraud Investigation, Recovery, and Enforcement (FIRE) section monitors, investigates, and refers allegations of member and retailer fraud in DHS public assistance programs, including FoodShare, Medicaid, and the state supplement to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
FIRE has three units, the Investigation and Technical Assistance Unit (ITAU), PARIS (Public Assistance Reporting Information System) Unit, and Trafficking Enforcement and Audit Unit. Each unit is comprised of subject matter experts and acts as a resource for all partner agencies. See detailed descriptions below.
Types of member fraud, waste, and abuse, including collusion with retailers
- Cashiers redeeming their own or family members’ benefits
- Concealing income
- Failure to report household composition accurately
- Identity theft
- Receiving benefits in more than one state at the same time
- Trafficking of benefits for ineligible items or cash
Strategies used to detect fraud, waste, and abuse
- Compare public information such as Social Security, state wage records, unemployment benefits, and prisoner data with member-provided data
- Conduct monitoring visits, audits, and undercover investigations of retailers
- Investigate fraud allegations received through the fraud hotline and other sources
- Monitor the number of replacement cards issued to each member
- Monitor social media sites for advertisement of FoodShare cards or benefits for sale
- Participate in the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS)
- Use data analytics
Specialized investigation units within FIRE
The Investigation and Technical Assistance Unit is responsible for investigating member fraud, providing technical assistance to our local agency partners, offering educational material to members and the general public, and acting as a special operations team as needed.
The Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) Unit is responsible for identifying members who receive duplicate benefits in two or more states or no longer qualify for benefits in Wisconsin due to out-of-state residency.
The Trafficking Enforcement and Audit Unit is responsible for investigating QUEST card member trafficking and misuse, and partnering with local law enforcement agencies to investigate FoodShare fraud.