{"id":28123,"date":"2024-05-22T13:56:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T13:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/05\/22\/fraudsters-targeting-federal-government-employees-savings-accounts\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:18:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:18:54","slug":"fraudsters-targeting-federal-government-employees-savings-accounts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/it-networks\/cybersecurity\/2024\/05\/22\/fraudsters-targeting-federal-government-employees-savings-accounts\/","title":{"rendered":"Fraudsters targeting federal government employees\u2019 savings accounts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hackers are using data they\u2019ve discovered to open fraudulent savings accounts in the name of federal employees and get paid for false claims, the government\u2019s HR agency said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a benefit to employment, civil servants can sign up for a pre-tax savings account<\/a> sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management and administered by HealthEquity, Inc. Politico first reported<\/a> that several hundred accounts, real and fake, have been leveraged to submit false reimbursement claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOPM was notified by the third-party vendor who administers the FSAFEDS program of a rise in fraudulent activity,\u201d a spokesperson for the agency said. \u201cOPM is working with the vendor to secure impacted accounts, compensate impacted individuals and implement additional anti-fraud controls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spokesperson said there is no evidence OPM or its vendors\u2019 internal systems have been breached, meaning individuals likely obtained personal account information through other means. Overall, less than 20% of federal employees use a flexible savings account, as of 2022.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\t