Data mining to be developed to prevent public assistance fraud

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy    Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Office:  (213) 974-5555   Cell: (213) 215-5176    E-mail:  tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

 

 

 

  




January 6, 2009                                                                                                           For Immediate Release

 

ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF DATA MINING TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY  –  To curb welfare fraud, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich to develop “data mining” technology in the Department of Public and Social Services data warehouse.  

 

Data mining technology extracts hidden patterns from data to identify wasteful duplication and fraud.  It can predict fraud based on the characteristics and circumstances known to be associated with fraudulent activity, such as relationships among parties participating in suspicious activities, unusually large distances between work and home addresses, and inconsistencies in the information reported to eligibility workers.

 

“In a recent successful pilot program I initiated utilizing this technology, we achieved an 85% success rate in detecting fraud rings,” said Antonovich.  “This technology will save tax dollars and improve the District Attorney’s fraud investigations.” 

 

This program will target fraud in services including welfare, healthcare, in home support services and food stamps.