California's Community Colleges: A Fraudulent Frenzy

The Problem:

• 1 in 3 applicants are fake
• 1.2 million impostors taking classes, submitting fake work, and stealing financial aid
• Biggest public higher-education system in the country, turned into a scammer's paradise

Why?

• Checking IDs was optional - like leaving your front door wide open
• Took a big investigation to wake people up
• Nine members of Congress asked the federal government to look into it

The Response:

• Governing board finally said: "Okay, let's check IDs."
• Thought about charging a small fee ($10), but decided against it
• Instead, they'll "explore" other options - really?

Who's Getting Hurt?

• Real students competing with bots for classes
• One student lost her spot in a crucial class to a fake enrollee
• Every fake applicant means one less real student gets the help they need

This Isn't Just About Colleges

• During the pandemic, California lost $32.6 billion to unemployment fraud
• Inmates got fraudulent payments
• Disability insurance: 98% of medical providers were fake
• Food assistance programs: Millions stolen

The Real Issue

• Politicians make it sound like checking IDs is mean
• California had a huge surplus, now it's facing a big deficit
• The problem isn't money, it's governance
• Until California starts taking responsibility, every dollar will just disappear