CalWORKs fraud investigation by private investigator - what do they look for?

OH YES i went thru this last year, its terrifying!!! They were watching my apartment, taking pictures of who came & went. They're checking if u have someone living with u that ur not reporting or if ur working somewhere ur not telling them about. My worker said most of the time its bcuz someone reported u, like a ex or mad neighbor. They also check social media to see if ur posting pics that don't match what ur telling CalWORKs (like expensive stuff or vacations when ur saying ur broke). Make sure she has PROOF of all her income and hours!!!

These are typically Special Investigators from the county's fraud investigation unit, not exactly 'private detectives.' They investigate suspected fraud related to unreported income, unreported household members (especially an absent parent living in the home), or residency issues (if they suspect you don't actually live in the county/state). If your cousin has been reporting all income and household members correctly, she shouldn't worry. The investigation might have been triggered by an anonymous tip, data matching with employer records that showed a discrepancy, or sometimes just random selection. They may conduct surveillance, interview employers, neighbors, landlords, or check public records and social media. Your cousin should gather documentation of all reported income, rental agreements, and anything that verifies her household composition. She has the right to remain silent if questioned, but cooperating while having documentation ready is often the best approach.

they can also check ur kids school records to see who picks them up and who is listed as contacts!!! my friend got caught because her boyfriend was listed as the emergency contact at the school but she told calworks she lived alone with her kids. they also checked her car registration and saw his name was on it too

I think ur cousin should just call her worker and ask directly what the investigation is about instead of worrying. Usually they don't tell you about investigations unless they already found something wrong and are giving you a chance to explain. Has she gotten any official notice or just heard about it from someone?

The county workers are IMPOSSIBLE to reach by phone when you need answers about something serious like this!! I had a similar situation and spent DAYS trying to get through to someone who could explain what was happening with my case. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a live person in under 5 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE They charged my phone but it was worth it because I was able to talk to my worker directly and clear up the misunderstanding before it turned into a full investigation. Your cousin should try to talk to her worker ASAP to find out exactly what they're looking into.

just want 2 say dont panic! i got investigated last year cuz my ex called and told them i was working under the table (i wasnt). they came to my house twice to interview me and checked all my bank statements and stuff but in the end they found nothing cuz there was nothing to find. it was stressful but nothing bad happened and i kept my benefits

Here's what your cousin needs to know about fraud investigations: 1. They're looking for unreported income, unreported household members (especially fathers of children on the case), and residence verification. 2. California has gotten much more aggressive with fraud detection since 2023, using data matching across multiple systems (DMV, EDD, school records, etc.). 3. Investigators CAN show up unannounced at your home or workplace, but they must identify themselves. 4. If the investigation finds no fraud, nothing happens to her benefits. 5. If they find minor discrepancies, they typically establish an overpayment that she'll need to repay (they can reduce her future benefits by up to 10% to recoup it). 6. Only serious, intentional fraud cases with substantial evidence get referred for criminal prosecution. The best approach is to provide requested documentation promptly and honestly. If she has any concerns about previous reporting errors, she should consider consulting with a legal aid attorney who specializes in public benefits before discussing those with investigators.

tell her to check all her social media RIGHT NOW and delete anything that could look suspicious!!! my cousin got caught because she posted pics of her "boyfriend" (who actually lived with her) on Facebook even tho she told calworks she was single and lived alone with her kids. they printed out her facebook posts and used them as evidence!!!

As a follow up - if your cousin is contacted by investigators, she should: 1. Stay calm and be polite 2. Ask for identification from the investigator 3. Take notes about what's being asked 4. Only answer questions she knows the answer to (it's okay to say "I don't recall" or "I'm not sure") 5. Request a written list of any documents they want her to provide 6. Get contact information for the investigator If she's accused of something she didn't do, she should contact legal aid immediately. The Legal Aid Association of California can help her find free legal assistance: https://www.laaconline.org/

I'm going through something similar right now and wanted to share what I've learned. The key thing is that these investigations are often triggered by data matching - like if her employer reports different hours/income to the state than what she reported to CalWORKs. Even small discrepancies can flag a case. From what my legal aid attorney told me, the investigators will look at: - Bank statements and deposits - Work schedules vs reported hours - Anyone who regularly spends time at her home - Her car registration and insurance - Utility bills to see who's living there The good news is that if she's been honest about everything, this will just be a hassle that eventually clears up. But she should definitely start gathering all her documentation now - pay stubs, bank statements, lease agreement, anything that shows her household composition and income. Having everything organized will make the process smoother if they do contact her directly. Also tell her not to stress too much about minor tip reporting issues - they're usually looking for bigger stuff like unreported jobs or people living in the home.

I went through a CalWORKs fraud investigation about 6 months ago and can share what happened. The investigator contacted me by phone first to schedule a meeting at my home. They gave me 3 days notice, which was nice because I could prepare all my documents. During the home visit, they looked at my living situation to verify who actually lives there, checked my fridge and cabinets (to see if it looked like more people than I reported were eating there), and asked to see my bedroom setup. They also requested 3 months of bank statements, all my recent pay stubs, and my lease agreement. The whole thing took about 2 weeks from start to finish. Turns out someone had reported me anonymously claiming my ex was living with me (he wasn't - he just picked up our daughter regularly). Once I showed them documentation proving my living situation and income, they closed the case with no issues. The investigator was actually pretty professional and explained that most of these reports turn out to be false or based on misunderstandings. Tell your cousin to stay organized with her paperwork and be truthful about everything. If she's really been reporting correctly, this should resolve itself without any problems.

Your cousin should definitely stay calm and be proactive about this. I work at a community legal clinic and see these investigations fairly regularly. The most important thing is to understand that getting investigated doesn't mean she did anything wrong - the system is designed to check up on cases, and many investigations result in no findings. Since she got an official letter from the Special Investigations Unit, she should expect contact within the next 2-4 weeks. They'll likely want to schedule an interview and may request documentation. Make sure she keeps copies of everything she provides to them. One thing I always tell clients is to be extra careful about cash tips going forward. Even if the amounts seem small, unreported cash income is one of the most common issues we see. If she's been casual about reporting tips in the past, she should start keeping detailed records now and consider doing a voluntary disclosure to her worker about any previous underreporting before the investigation goes further. The good news is that most of these cases resolve without serious consequences, especially when people cooperate and provide requested documentation promptly.