René Kladzyk’s Post

Military families are facing a hidden crisis—mold in their homes is making them sick. But a gap in federal standards has been exploited by the military and housing companies to avoid testing and competent mold remediation, according to military housing advocates, attorneys, and experts interviewed by Project On Government Oversight. René Kladzyk and Rolling Stone reveal the struggles these families endure. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ejFcSSVY

As one who served as a Marine Corps Officer, this recent scheme involving the use of service-disabled veterans as front men is extremely disturbing. Two men formerly from Pittsburgh are facing charges in a major fraud scheme against the United States. Both Edward DiGorio Jr., 65, and Edward Kessler, 68, were the owners of two construction companies in Pittsburgh that were formed for the purpose of bidding on and acquiring “set-aside” contracts issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to small businesses owned and operated by service-disabled veterans of the U.S. military and pre-certified by the VA as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOBs), the Department of Justice said. Neither DiGorio nor Kessler had served in the military, nor were they service-disabled, officials said. DiGorio and Kessler would pay service-disabled veterans to falsely represent themselves as the primary owners and operators of ADDVETCO and Hi-Def, and to falsely attest to ownership of the companies on critical documents submitted to the VA as part of the SDVOB certification process. This is known as a “Rent-A-Vet” scheme. Over an 11 year period, the companies were awarded 67 contracts that were intended for SDVOBs, 50 of which were worth $1 million or more. DiGorio and Kessler are scheduled for sentencing on July 11. They face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million or both. #construction #fraud #contracts #veterans #pittsburgh https://lnkd.in/g6juWC_F

Stay armed. Be an effective first responder.

Last year alone, servicemembers and veterans reported over $350 million in losses to fraud. Considering that only about 1 in 44 financial exploitation cases are ever reported, the true cost to those who have served is likely much higher. As Veterans Day approaches, let’s do our part to protect those who’ve protected us. Reach out to the veterans and servicemembers in your life, and share this article highlighting trending scams, red flags to watch for, and critical resources for those who may have been targeted. Knowledge is power, and together, we can help safeguard our heroes. https://lnkd.in/gf7vrvyw #VeteransDay #SupportOurVeterans #FraudPrevention #FinancialProtection #MilitaryConsumer

I’m a Coast Guard veteran and I’m talking with Congress about Operation Fouled Anchor. Per the CG report, 70 agents reviewed 102 events and spoke with 300 witnesses. 20,000 investigative hours. And this was just for the crimes at the Coast Guard Academy. I’m encouraging Congress to ask where the money came from for the investigation. Congress didn’t authorize and appropriate $s so what pot of money was used for the investigation? How did the CG explain these expenditures to the DHS Comptroller who is responsible for the entire DHS budget? Who authorized the travel claims for the 70 agents? How inputted the travel info into govt systems? Who paid out the travel claims? Was the info about the expenses associated with OFA shared with auditors? I encourage all Coast Guard veterans to advocate for sexual assault survivors in our service.

It's long past time that MoD procurement was reformed, as its civil servants continue to demonstrate that they don't have a grip on taxpayers' money. Official figures show fraudsters have stolen almost £1 billion from the Ministry of Defence since 2010. The disclosure has prompted accusations that the MoD is seen as a “soft touch for thieves and corrupt government officials”, according to one senior civil servant. The figures show that almost every area of defence, from personal expenses to the procurement of weapons, aircraft, and ships, has fallen victim to fraud costing the country millions.  The £1 billion losses could have paid for up to 127 Challenger tanks or 12 F-35 Lightning combat jets. #uk #politics #defence #MoD #procurement #cips #oversight #governance https://lnkd.in/ekbgAe9Y

Corporate Slip and Fall* This type of fraud involves individuals who purposely organize a fall while inside a store in order to file a claim. They will go as far as to throw water on the floor in order to ensure a slip. • *Expense Claim Fraud* When employees pocket run over business expenses they are committing fraud. Often, individuals will claim to stay in hotels costing $200 a night when in reality, they stay in cheap motels and keep the remainder of the money. *Are there Scams That Target Seniors Citizens? (and How to Avoid Them)* According to the National Council on Aging, older adults suffer annual financial losses of about 33 billion Naira to fraud schemes. These heartless crimes can devastate victims, who are often on meager fixed incomes and reliant on their savings. In most cases, the losses cannot be recovered thus causing either heart related suffering or Death. Call our DIPSEA LAND SECURITY MARINE, HEALTH CONSULTS (DELMASC) Private Investigators today.* +234 8138721173 [email protected] DEEPSEA WEBSITES --- https://lnkd.in/daw2bkJb

🚨Protecting Our Veterans🚨 Claims Predators Fraud Prevention Campaign: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a crucial campaign to combat “claims predators” – unscrupulous individuals who unlawfully charge Veterans for assistance with their VA claims. These bad actors often promise expedited processing and higher disability ratings in exchange for high fees. What can you do? 1️⃣ Use VA-accredited representatives: Only work with VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, or Veterans Service Organization representatives. 2️⃣ Report suspicious activity: If you suspect unethical behavior, report it at VSAFE.gov or call 833-38V-SAFE. 3️⃣ The VA is committed to ensuring that all Veterans can safely and securely navigate the benefits process without falling victim to fraud. Learn more and access the toolkit to educate and protect our Veteran community: https://lnkd.in/ggM9_ziZ #Veterans #FraudPrevention #ClaimsPredators #VA #VeteranBenefits

Of course: more PPP loan fraud.