Grifting granny: Elderly Bronx lady bilked government out of $650K, blew it at the casino: officials

[MULTIZ321]

Grifting granny: Elderly Bronx lady bilked government out of $650K, blew it at the casino: officials

Grifting granny: Elderly Bronx lady bilked government out of $650K, blew it at the casino: officials

Carmen Soto had apparently been plotting the scheme for decades, when she began collecting benefits off the false government IDs around 1994, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office…

nypost.com

Richard

 

[Sandy VDH]

Methods of identification using biometrics are hard to fool. Only time will tell how many others are doing this too. This fraud was planned decades ago. Wow.

 

[DrQ]

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Classic New York Post - headline says it all.
" Grifting Granny"......

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Who would have planned for biometric identification in 1960? (At age 15? Not even a Science Fiction fan. . . )

I saw that loophole when my class applied for Social Security numbers in 1969. I thought about it, but in the end I didn't do it. My goal would have been not to bilk Social Security, but to have a "getaway" id, should I even need it. Age 65 was a loooong ways away for a 13 year old. . .

The granny still could have gotten away with it, had she kept the id's in different, nearby states. On across the river in New Jersey, one in Connecticut,ect.

 

[Roger830]

"She was sentenced to five years’ probation"

So no significant punishment.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

"She was sentenced to five years’ probation"

So no significant punishment.

Ever watch the ending of the movie "Going In Style?" (The original 1979 version.)

 

[MdRef]

Give credit where credit is due. A non-violent, "carefully orchestrated scheme" to bilk the system. Is there any doubt whatsoever that she can't figure out a way to hide those book deal advances?

 

[Tia]

She's unfortunately probably not the only thief doing similar.

 

[am1]

"She was sentenced to five years’ probation"

So no significant punishment.

Should be doing hard time for 10 years or longer.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Should be doing hard time for 10 years or longer.

How hard of a time for a broke 77 year old? 3 meals a day, place to sleep, free health care, and great security. The government takes everything above basic survival, as restitution.

Think it over.

 

[kanerf]

How could this happen? To receive benefits you have to have the appropriate work credits, ie, you need to work for a minimum number of years. How could the phony SS accounts have any work credits accumulated?

 

[MdRef]

She

How hard of a time for a broke 77 year old? 3 meals a day, place to sleep, free health care, and great security. The government takes everything above basic survival, as restitution.

Think it over.

She is only doing probation so, no time in jail.

 

[PigsDad]

How could this happen? To receive benefits you have to have the appropriate work credits, ie, you need to work for a minimum number of years. How could the phony SS accounts have any work credits accumulated?

I believe there is a minimum amount you receive even if you don't have any work credits. Plus she could have possibly filed for welfare under those fake SSNs, right? Not sure.

Kurt

 

[kanerf]

I believe there is a minimum amount you receive even if you don't have any work credits. Plus she could have possibly filed for welfare under those fake SSNs, right? Not sure.

Kurt

The only people who can legally collect benefits without paying into Social Security are family members of workers who have done so. Nonworking spouses, ex-spouses, offspring or parents may be eligible for spousal, survivor or children's benefits based on the qualifying worker's earnings record. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/soc...o can,the qualifying worker's earnings record.

So I don't see how this person could have collected anything.

 

[PigsDad]

The only people who can legally collect benefits without paying into Social Security are family members of workers who have done so. Nonworking spouses, ex-spouses, offspring or parents may be eligible for spousal, survivor or children's benefits based on the qualifying worker's earnings record. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/collecting-benefits-without-paying-into-social-security.html#:~:text=The only people who can,the qualifying worker's earnings record.

So I don't see how this person could have collected anything.

But obviously she did collect. Would be interesting to understand the loophole she used.

Kurt

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

But obviously she did collect. Would be interesting to understand the loophole she used.

Kurt

SSI? Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | Benefits.gov

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides financial help to disabled adults and children with limited income and resources. Determine your eligibility for this benefit

www.benefits.gov

 

[kanerf]

But obviously she did collect. Would be interesting to understand the loophole she used.

Kurt

I am sure they won't let us know and will quietly shore up that hole in the system (at least I hope so). Makes one wonder how many illegal aliens might be doing the same thing.

 

[pedro47]

She

She is only doing probation so, no time in jail.

I agree what is her time in jail. Zero
Five (5) years probation for stealing over 650,000 dollars.
Plus, now this newspaper article will give others the ideas to try this crime. IMHO.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

I agree what is her time in jail. Zero
Five (5) years probation for stealing over 650,000 dollars.
Plus, now this newspaper article will give others the ideas to try this crime. IMHO.

The requirements for getting a Social Security number were tightened up many years ago. It's not a crime you can set up on a whim.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Should be doing hard time for 10 years or longer.

she lives in the Bronx / she already did her " hard time "

********
Full disclosure -
I am a graduate of Fordham Prep HS - East Fordham Rd Bronx NY
I graduated before NYC tore down the Bronx stub of the 3rd Ave El

I love the Bronx - in all it's un-gentrified reality.

 

[pedro47]

The requirements for getting a Social Security number were tightened up many years ago. It's not a crime you can set up on a whim.

How was she able to bypass all the new Social Security number requirements?

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

How was she able to bypass all the new Social Security number requirements?

By getting those extra Social Security numbers used to defraud the government in 1960, when things were much looser and she was 15 years old. They didn't start tightening up until the 1980's (if memory serves me).

In other words, this heist was planned 50 years in advance. . .

 

[MdRef]

I agree what is her time in jail. Zero
Five (5) years probation for stealing over 650,000 dollars.
Plus, now this newspaper article will give others the ideas to try this crime. IMHO.

To be fair, she also had to surrender the 3 passports. One for each a/k/a.

 

[Tia]

Those that want to find a way do. A co-worker's spouse knew a guy at his place of employment that was deported ~10 years ago. Months later the same guy was back working with a different name....

How was she able to bypass all the new Social Security number requirements?