Unemployment fraud cost Ohio $32M in last 12 months

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio officials say fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits have cost the state nearly $32 million in the last 12 months.

The state Department of Job and Family Services announced the figure Tuesday as it introduced a new website where tipsters who suspect fraud can report it, anonymously.

The department says most of the cheating occurs when people try to collect unemployment while they’re working or after they’re gone back to work.

Last year, the state recovered more than $9.8 million in unemployment money that had been received fraudulently, out of $5 billion in benefits paid out. More than 150 people were convicted of unemployment theft or similar charges.