Bragging in every shape or form is widely prevalent on social media. Whether humble or unabashedly boastful, bragging can be an effective way to communicate a positive image of ourselves in our social media circles. On both personal and professional fronts, our online social lives are studied by our supposed friends. So better to make the posts memorable. Like Cora Custard did. Custard used her Facebook account to advertise her services in order to file fraudulent disaster relief applications. You can sell anything on Facebook. Except for illegal content of course, which would include fraud. Any action which is against or not authorized by the law is still illegal on social media. Something Custard’s Facebook friends failed to comment on.
From March 2020 to March 2021, Custard’s Facebook posts repeatedly described the scheme to her social media followers as “doing apps,” with the ability to obtain between $6,000 and $8,000 for an application within four to seven days of filing. That post will catch some “likes.” Custard filed at least thirty fraudulent FEMA applications related to Hurricanes Laura and Sally, with 16 of those leading to $75,000 in payouts.
The pandemic proved to be boost Custards’ social media numbers. She was responsible for submitting over one hundred fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, thirty-six of which resulted in $345,000 in payments. Additionally, Custard committed several other fraudulent acts like filing over a one hundred false unemployment insurance applications in Michigan, Illinois, and several other states for her own and others’ benefits.
Time for Custard to change her posts to “doing time.” On September 18, 2024, Custard plead guilty to fraud. Her fraudulent activities led to over $620,000 in financial losses from the Small Business Administration (SBA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and multiple state unemployment insurance programs.
Excellent job by the Department of Homeland Security in this case.
Today’s Fraud of The Day is based on article “Facebook scheme nets $620K in fake SBA, FEMA claims” published by Fox 26 News on September 18, 2024.
A former Houston resident pleads guilty to conspiracy in $620,000 fraud scheme involving SBA, FEMA, and unemployment agencies. Cora Custard admitted to filing over 100 fraudulent disaster relief applications, promoting the scheme on Facebook.
Faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine at January 2025 sentencing. A former Houston resident has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani of the Southern District of Texas.
