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    Celebrating 30 Years of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution

    Thirty years ago, the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) launched the Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution (BFPP) with a vision to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the integrity of public assistance programs. Today, as we celebrate BFPP’s 30th anniversary, it’s clear that this mission has never been more relevant—or more impactful.

    30 Years of Protecting Tax Dollars

    The Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution (BFPP) works hard to prevent fraud and save money for Pennsylvania. By stopping fake claims and catching mistakes before payments are made, BFPP has saved the state $2,031,489,503 over the last 30 years. This helps make sure public assistance money goes to the people who really need it, cuts down on waste, and keeps programs strong for families who rely on them. Stopping fraud before it happens is the best way to protect these resources, and BFPP’s work is an example of how government can do things right.

    BFPP also recovers money through careful investigations and legal actions against welfare fraud. So far, they have recovered $1,251,701,322. This money is put back into public assistance programs to help Pennsylvanians who need extra support.

    Partners in Integrity

    BFPP’s success wouldn’t be possible without our strong partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS has always worked closely with us, especially under the leadership of Secretary Arkoosh, to stop fraud and recover funds. They help us every step of the way, from finding possible cases to putting prevention measures in place and getting back money that was wrongly paid.

    This partnership shows how much we care about protecting public assistance programs. Together, we make sure these programs do what they’re meant to do: help families and individuals who really need support.

    30 Years of Community Protection

    Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership, BFPP is working hard to protect public programs. Using data and technology has helped us stop people from abusing programs like SNAP, which helps families buy food. Some people misuse SNAP benefits by trading them for cash, often for less than they are worth. This is called SNAP trafficking, and it’s illegal.

    BFPP uses advanced tools to find patterns of SNAP trafficking, making it easier for investigators to catch fraud. For example, in Franklin County, investigators stopped a big SNAP trafficking operation that had stolen nearly $185,000. Thanks to their hard work, the people responsible were caught, and Pennsylvania sent a clear message: we will not allow public programs to be misused.

     

    Under Governor Shapiro's public safety agenda BFPP has evolved into a full-fledged law enforcement agency. This shift equips BFPP to do anything expected of a modern law enforcement body. This modernization is already delivering results, and the future holds even greater promise. With new tools and capabilities at our disposal, we anticipate an even broader impact in the years ahead, further enhancing our ability to protect taxpayer dollars and public assistance programs.