American Citizens Defrauded of Billions by Chinese Hackers: Has the DOGE Efficiency Department Truly Made an Impact?
The program “60 Minutes” conducts an in-depth investigation into the activities of transnational crime organizations, interviewing U.S. officials about whether the DOGE efficiency department led by Elon Musk has helped the government save nearly $165 billion. The video also reveals how Chinese hackers use generative AI to steal the faces and personal data of Americans, including Social Security, social welfare, and disaster relief funds. Below is a summary of the key points from the “60 Minutes” video.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office Welcomes DOGE’s Disclosure of Fraud
Linda Miller, who works at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), stated that she welcomes DOGE’s disclosure of how American taxpayers’ personal information and property have been stolen by transnational scam organizations. Miller, who has worked at the GAO for over a decade, specializes in tracking how taxpayer money is spent and misused, and she even authored a manual to prevent fraud in federal programs.
The GAO released a report last year estimating that the federal government loses up to $521 billion annually due to fraud, but Miller believes the real numbers are even higher. She estimates that government losses could reach between $550 billion and $750 billion each year. Many people think that fraud is primarily the act of a few individuals stealing disability benefits or food stamps, but the reality is that most American citizen victims have their identities stolen by organized crime groups, allowing hackers and criminal organizations to profit, rather than just isolated offenders.
Americans’ Social Security Numbers Available for Purchase on the Dark Web
Brian Vren, head of the FBI’s cyber division, stated that cybercrime groups can almost sell the Social Security numbers of every American on the dark web, including personal identity information such as names, birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. These private data can be found and purchased on the dark web, reportedly selling for as little as two dollars each.
Disaster Relief Applicants’ Identities Being Misused
Currently, one of the most vulnerable groups in online scams are those waiting for disaster relief. When a disaster strikes a region or country, scam groups target those who need help the most, hijacking their identities to apply for aid. When the actual disaster victims prepare to apply for assistance, they find out that their identities have already been hijacked, and the funds have been scammed away, leaving them in dire circumstances. The Wilkins couple, who survived the wildfires in Los Angeles, applied for disaster assistance from FEMA only to discover that their FEMA account had been hacked and their information altered, resulting in their account being frozen. This issue is not isolated to them; other disaster victims have faced similar problems.
AP41 Chinese Hacker Group Stealing Americans’ Personal Data for Sale on the Dark Web
Cybercriminals utilize AI deepfakes to bypass U.S. government identity verification. In the “60 Minutes” video, a man is seen attempting to use his ID for camera verification, during which half of a Chinese man’s face can be seen when he holds up his driver’s license, and voices speaking Chinese can be heard. The FBI has identified this criminal organization as the AP 41 Group, suspecting they work for foreign governments. In 2021, AP 41 executed highly sophisticated hacking attacks against at least six U.S. state governments, profiting from the theft of Americans’ personal information, then fraudulently obtaining tax refunds, unemployment benefits, welfare, and grants from the U.S. government. They laundered these proceeds through shell companies and transferred the money back to China.
Has the DOGE Efficiency Department Made an Impact? The White House Affirms Its Role
When the host of “60 Minutes” asked senior employee Linda Miller whether DOGE has helped the U.S. government save on its budget, she cautiously stated that she absolutely welcomes the assistance from DOGE and Musk, but she believes that fraud is a complex scheme orchestrated by transnational crime organizations that need not be linked to politics.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields stated that DOGE has played a crucial role in improving data accuracy and streamlining internal federal processes. Through inter-agency data sharing, departments are collaborating to identify fraudulent activities and prevent criminals from exploiting hard-working American taxpayers. Thanks to the DOGE team, fraudsters will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.
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